Tag: UK

TODAY IN GAY HISTORY | Homosexuality is decriminalised in England and Wales
By the time the Stonewall riots took the modern LGBT+ fight for equality into the public arena, the fight for gay rights, in the UK, had actually become over a decade before, when a report into homosexuality recommended that it be criminalised. It took over ten years for that report to be acted upon.

Laws around homosexuality differ from region to region in the UK meaning that gay people in Scotland and Northern Ireland had to wait a lot longer for equality.

Homosexuality became legal in Scotland in 1980 and in Northern in 1982.

Homosexuality was legalised in England and Wales on the 27th July 1967, a decade after the Wolfenden Report recommended that homosexuality should be decriminalised. The Sexual Offences Act was changed to decriminalise homosexuality, up to a point and only if three conditions were met:
1. that the act was consensual
2. that both parties were 21 or over
3. and the act was done in private.
Up until that point, men who were found to be having sex with other men were often charged with Gross Indecency or Buggery charges.

Thousands of men were criminalised because of this law. They were often sent to prison.

In 2017 a pardon was issued, as an apology to those men who served time for their “crime”.

When the law changed being gay still wasn’t equal to being straight. The age of consent was 21 and all sexual acts had to be done in private. it wasn’t until the new millennium, that laws pertaining to gay and straight sexual acts were equalised.

As it stands today, it is currently legal to be gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender across the UK, whether you’re in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales. Laws surrounding discriminating because of sexuality or gender expression are very strict in the UK and include employment and business services.
27th July 2020
TODAY IN GAY HISTORY | John Barrowman kisses a man during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

Considering that homosexuality is banned in the majority of Commonwealth nations John Barrowman‘s gay kiss certainly raised a few eyebrows back in 2014.

During a live performance in Scotland for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, actor and singer John Barrowman grabs a dancer in a kilt and kisses him in front of millions of viewers around the world.

Although the kiss is brief, it’s a pivotal moment, as it’s never been done before during the opening ceremony, which has a global audience of millions. At the time 40 of 53 nations in the Commonwealth have laws against homosexuality. There are still around 35 countries where same-sex relationships are illegal.

The kiss mirrored a number of other same-sex kisses that have happened during a live TV broadcast. In 2012, the Eurovision showed two same-sex kisses during its live broadcast, and during the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, the first lesbian kiss ever on a British soap was replayed.

The Barrowman 2014 kiss causes quite an uproar on social media, dividing viewers on whether the action was appropriate.

Watch the moment John kisses a dancer here.

24th July 2020
Here’s how to ask someone to put their face covering on without it turning into a Twitter-worthy meltdown

By now, we’ve all seen those people on social media who have melted down because they were confronted by someone asking them to don their (now mandatory) face masks. The question is how to do you ask someone to put on their mask, with it going nuclear?

As face coverings become mandatory while using public transport and shopping in many parts of the UK from tomorrow, in order to help reduce the spread of the Coronavirus, there are many people who are still not masking up. While masks won’t necessarily stop you from contracting Coronavirus, most masks, especially if they are double-layered, will slow down the spread, by collecting droplets from your mouth and nose when you speak, cough or sneeze.

Councillor Daniel Browne, a psychotherapist and author specialising in helping people to eliminate anxiety and building confidence, told us that explaining to the non-mask wearer that your concern is for your health and others around you might be the way to go.

He said, “I think the most important thing is to be calm when having the conversation.

Saying something like “I’m really worried about my health and everyone else’s health. That’s why it would be great for you and everyone to be wearing a mask. We all have a part to play in protecting everyone’s health as much as possible”, could be the way to diffuse any confrontatational situation.

He also suggested that giving some factual information on mask use could also be key in keeping things calm.

Showing pride while wearing the mask

Part of the face mask issue for many is that we also lose part of our identity when wearing a mask. The people you are interacting with can’t see your facial expressions and it’s almost impossible to see if you’re happy, angry, surprised or just damn bored.

But there is a way to retain some of your identity, by choosing a face mask that has a cool design on the front. We’ve discovered some amazing face masks that can help you show your pride while wearing a face covering.

23rd July 2020
TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | Gay marriage becomes legal on the Isle of Man

A brand new law allowed people in same-sex relationships to become legally married on the Isle of Man in 2016.

Chief Minister Allan Bell CBE MHK welcomed the new law and described it as a “historic moment” for the island, which is just off the coast of England.

The Act enables same-sex couples to marry either in a civil ceremony, in a registry 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.

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.”

Photo by Wallace Araujo on Pexels.com

The first in the UK to allow heterosexual couples to get civilly partnered

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.

The Marriage and Civil Partnership Amendment Act took effect from July 22 under an appointed day order made after Royal Assent was announced in Tynwald.

22nd July 2020
Homophobic hate crime continues to soar in Scotland

Instead of going down, homophobic hate crime continues to grow in Scotland.

Despite having some of the most progressive policies in the UK for LGBT+ people, crimes against gay and bi people, or people perceived to be LGB have continued to rise in Scotland.

Hate crime reports against LGB people are now at their highest level since 2010.

24 per cent rise in charges for homophobic crime

In the period between 2019 and 2020, there were 1486 total homophobic hate crime charges brought. In 2018 to 2019 there were 1194 – an increase of 292 charges for the current year, which is equal to a 24 per cent rise. Last year the rise was five per cent. Meaning that crimes against gay, lesbian and bi people has ballooned in Scotland.

Eighty-four per cent of the charges were taken to court. One per cent of the charges did not make it to court. Nine of the cases could not proceed because there was insufficient admissible evidence.

Transgender hate crime also increased, with one additional charge brought in the period of 2019-2020. Last year there were 40 charges, this year there have been 41 charges. A decrease since a high in 2017/2018 when charges reached 52.

“Disappointing and, frankly, embarrassing”

Talking to THEGAYUK about the new stats, MP Mhairi Black said,

“It is extremely disappointing and, frankly, embarrassing that homophobic hate crimes are still on the rise in Scotland.

“I hope, though I’m not necessarily hopeful, that these numbers indicate a greater number of people coming forward about the homophobic abuse they receive rather than the number of crimes actually increasing, but no matter which way you look at it this is a disgusting situation for a modern country to find itself in.”

21st July 2020
TODAY IN LGBT HISTORY | The Gay Slayer, Colin Ireland is apprehended by police

Serial killer Colin Ireland was charged and convicted of the murders of five gay men in the early 90s.

Early one evening in 1993, a loner and life-long under-achiever Colin Ireland declared a startling New Year’s resolution to a shocked newspaper journalist. He was going to become a serial killer.

Over the next six months, Ireland was as good as his word and went on to lure five gay men to their deaths. As the media whipped up a frenzy of fear proclaiming that a “Gay Slayer” was loose on the streets of London, Ireland continued to taunt those detectives trying to catch him.

Eventually, though, Ireland found himself backed into a corner as police closed the net around him. He was jailed in December 1993.

Ireland died in 2012 of ‘natural causes’ in prison aged 57. He was serving five counts of life imprisonment.

Who were Colin Ireland’s victims?

Peter Walker, 45 a choreographer. It is believed that he was the first victim of Ireland.

Christopher Dunn, was a 37-year-old librarian.

Perry Bradley III, 35, met Ireland at the Coleherne pub in London.

Andrew Collier, 33, was a housing warden.

Emanuel Spiteri, was 41 and from Malta. He also met Ireland at the Coleherne pub.

21st July 2020
Birmingham’s LGBT centre attacked for the second time this year

“No one else has had their window targeted”

Birmingham‘s very own LGBT Centre, which raises the awareness of the needs of LGBT people in Birmingham, has been vandalised for a second time in just a couple of months. In a tweet, the centre wrote that although the window-smashing might be the work of “petty vandalism” it also noted that none of the other shops or businesses in the immediate vicinity had their windows targeted.

The centre added that the cost of replacing the window was an additional expense that they did not need. The centre doesn’t know whether the damage would be covered by insurance and may have to set up a fundraiser to have the window replaced.

We are really sad to report that this happened again last night to our lovely LGBT center this is the second time in a couple of months and while it is probably petty vandalism no one else in the area has had their windows targeted. we dont need the additional expense pic.twitter.com/SaWtXEbB6h
— Birmingham LGBT+ Centre (@birminghamlgbt) July 19, 2020

According to the centre, the damage has been reported to the police and the charity is in receipt of an incident number.

In a statement on the official Facebook said, “We have reported to the police and will be getting the CCTV on the island checked we have an emergency contractor going out today to board it up and hopefully it will be covered by insurance if not we may well set up a fundraiser thanks for all who are contacting with offers of support”

Birmingham is home to one of the UK’s largest LGBT scenes and a thriving bar and pride scene.

20th July 2020
Cornwall Pride pens open letter to MPs about the Gender Recognition Act

Cornwall Pride wrote to all of the UK’s MPs to express concerns over the Gender Recognition Act and the delays to “gay cures” in the UK.

“Very concerned over backtracking on trans rights”.

The team that runs Cornwall’s only Pride event, Cornwall Pride has written to all of the UK’s MPs to outline their concerns about backtracking on transgender rights in the UK.

They also criticised the Government for “failing in its commitment to formally respond to the Gender Recognition Act consultation by repeatedly delaying publication of the review”

It continued,

“However, we are also disappointed to see the leaks of selected sections of the report without proper communication by the Government. This has caused significant distress and anxiety among trans people and wider LGBT+ communities here in Cornwall and the UK. We believe trans women are women, trans men are men and non- binary identities are valid.

“We, therefore, state our support for trans people’s right to self-identification.”

As it stands,to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) in the UK, transgender people require a medical diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria, implying that being transgender is a mental illness – a view not recognised by the World Health Organisation.

“They must also live in their “acquired” gender for a minimum of 2 years and must pay a fee of £140.

Cornwall Pride adds, “The Government’s own research acknowledges that this process is bureaucratic, expensive, and humiliating for many transgender people. We believe the Government should respect the consultation, demonstrate a consideration for transgender people’s safety and dignity, and continue to explore ways of reforming the GRA”.

“Perturbed to restrict trans women’s access to services and facilities”

The letter also states,

“We are particularly perturbed by the reported proposals to not only scrap any reform to the GRA, but to restrict trans women’s access to services and facilities in the guise of “safeguarding” safe spaces for cisgender women. One of our supporters has worked in the Violence Against Women and Girls sector, including in a refuge, for more than 13 years and believes such restrictions for trans women are unnecessary and unethical.

“We will be dismayed if the rights of transgender people, both with and without a GRC, are dismantled to appease a “vocal few”.

Read the full letter here.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/741984136331178/permalink/829857034210554/

18th July 2020
Woman dies after drinking bottle of poppers

People. Please don’t drink poppers.

Despite the fact that all bottles of poppers sold in the UK come with a warning not to drink the contents, one woman in Scotland, unfortunately, downed one and died shortly after.

It is thought that she assumed the bottle was an alcohol miniature, when a friend handed her a bottle that he had purchased from a local store.

She became seriously ill, fast

The woman, from Angus, was handed the bottle from a male friend who bought two bottles from their local off-license. It is thought that she then drank the content of a bottle of XL Gold before becoming seriously ill and dying shortly after. XL Gold is a popular room aroma, which gives a head rush when inhaled.

CREDIT: TheGayUK

She fell ill and died the same day, according to The Metro

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Poppers sold and marketed in the UK are legal to purchase, however they are not sold for human consumption. Many people, of course, huff or inhale directly from the bottle and it gives a quick headrush – and often causes a mild headache.

17th July 2020
Ever wanted to star in an advert for a gay sauna?

You could be joining the likes of Austin Armacost if you manage to get a spot on the new Pleasuredrome campaign. Back in 2018 Pleasuredrome introduced the hunky Celebrity Big Brother star, but now you could be the face of London’s busiest sauna.

The world-famous sauna in London, is swinging open the doors in search of 20 guys to become the new faces of the Pleasuredrome bathhouse.

Pleasuredrome put out a casting call, looking for 20 guys in “all shapes and sizes” and added that “age is not a barrier to beauty”.

The advert says that they are “seeking confident men of all ages and backgrounds to appear in our New Generation Pleasuredrome campaign”

Plus you could earn a tidy £200 and a set of photographs, if you’re successful.

Anyone who is interested has to be available to shoot on the 25th or 26th July.

Pleasuredrome was one of the first gay saunas in the UK to announce its plans to open post lockdown with a tentative date set for August – although an actual date has not yet been set.

Gay owned and managed by Adam and Charles, Pleasuredrome attracts more than 15,000 men every month of all types and ages from London and across the world. This award-winning spa is unique in being open continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. Pleasuredrome is the only gay venue in the United Kingdom that never closes.

15th July 2020
Funeral fundraiser for victims of Terror attack reaches over £15,000

The official fundraiser, created by Reading Pride to help the families of James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails who all sadly died after an attack in Reading has reached over £15,000.

A fundraiser by Reading Pride on behalf of the victims of the incident in Forbury Park where three men sadly lost their lives nearly a month ago, has raised in excess of £15,000 to help with funeral costs and a permanent tribute. Over six hundred people have donated to the fundraiser, which at the time of publishing stood at £15,335.

Permanent Tribute

It is also hoped that the funds raised will go towards a permanent tribute to the three men in Forbury Gardens in Reading town centre, where the three were killed.

The park has now reopened for reflection and tributes.

The fundraiser page has a statement which reads,

“With the tragic event within our community in Reading on Saturday 20th June 2020, we’re hoping to raise some money and funds to help support the families for funeral costs.

“As well as a permanent tribute within Forbury Gardens, so everyone has a physical memento to remember the tragic loss of lives that have occurred.”

Three died, multiple people were injured

James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails were all enjoying an evening in Forbury Gardens when, according to witnesses at the park, their attacker approached them and others, with what has been described as a 5-inch knife.

Terror suspect, Khairi Saadallah is accused of murdering James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39, on the evening of 20th June in Forbury Gardens. Saadallah is also charged with the attempted murder of three other people. His trial is set for late November.

To donate, click here

14th July 2020