THEGAYUK

Tag: UK

  • Pride event bans Drag Queens in case they offend

    Glasgow’s Free Pride, not to be mistaken for Glasgow Pride, has taken steps to ban drag queens from its Pride after a trans and non-binary caucus decided some drag acts could offend.

    A pride event has become the first in the UK to officially ban drag queens from its event after deciding that some drag acts could offend.

    UPDATED: 20th July 2:36

    A pride event has become the first in the UK to officially ban drag queens from performing at its event after deciding that some drag acts could offend.

    A statement released by the “anti-commercialist” pride event reads:

    “After much discussion, the trans and non binary caucus decided not to have drag acts perform at the event.

    “This does not mean that people of any gender can’t wear what they want to the event, we simply won’t be having any self-described drag acts perform at our Free Pride Event on the 22nd August. We hope people can understand and support our decision. However we feel it important to fully explain why we came this decision.

    “The decision was taken by transgender individuals who were uncomfortable with having drag performances at the event. It was felt that it would make some of those who were transgender or questioning their gender uncomfortable.”

    However the policy has led to many commenters to react angrily accusing the pride to be bigoted against cis people and question its role as a non-discriminatory event.

    One user commenting on Free Pride’s facebook page reminded Free Pride organisers that the gay pride movement was started when Drag queens “stood up against oppression” and that they should be “lauded not excluded” Glasgow Pride responded to Free Pride’s policy by saying,

    Glasgow Pride, Scotland’s largest Pride event, responded to Free Pride’s policy by saying,

    “We can understand the actions behind Free Pride over the banning of Drag Performers but believe this to action to (be) wrong and going against what an inclusive event should be about. As an organisation Pride Glasgow had a similar discussion back in 2010 over how Drag could cause discomfort to people however we took the decision that Drag Queens and Kings play an important part in the history of the Pride movement and should be included within the event.”

    In March the students union passed a motion banning cross-dressing or drag due to the offence it could cause trans women.

    Disclosure: THEGAYUK is a media sponsor for Glasgow Pride.

     

  • LBC Radio Presenter Iain Dale Slams Ivan Massow Mayoral Campaign Video

    Long-time LBC presenter Iain Dale has slammed Ivan Massow’s latest mayoral campaign video as “buttock-clenchingly awful”.

    The out LBC presenter Iain Dale tweeted his disapproval of Ivan Massow‘s latest mayoral campaign video calling it “possibly the worst campaign video” he had ever seen.

     

    Comments for the video have been disabled on YouTube but that didn’t stop Iain Dale having at pop at Massow, calling the campaign “buttock-clenchingly awful”.

    In an interview with THEGAYUK Ivan Massow told us: Having spent the last year “visiting various London institutions… hospices, meals on wheels, homeless shelters, tube digs…And every Housing Association in London…developers, [and] planning departments” and he is now keen to take this a step further, over the course of a month, he wants to spend each night staying with a different London-based family, to find out what bugs London about London.

    In direct response to Dale, Massow tweeted: “the idea is to hear from Londoners directly about their own area.”

     

     

  • Tim Farron Asked Three Times If Gay Sex Is A Sin

    The newly elected leader of the Liberal Democrats has failed to quash fears about his moral views on homosexuality after failing to answer whether he thought gay sex was a sin or not.

    During an interview on Channel 4 news earlier this week, Cathy Newman asked the new leader “Personally, do you think as a Christian, that homosexual sex is a sin?”

    Christians “do not go around forcing their views on other people” he answered and failed to answer the question. Cathy Newman then quoted a Leviticus quote, to which he responded: “My faith is based upon my belief that Jesus Christ is who he said he is”

    So evasive was he over the question she asked three times.
    The Brian Paddick backed Tim Farron was elected the new leader of the Liberal Democrats after former Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg stood down.

    Tim Farron has come under pressure after abstaining on the gay marriage vote.

    Stewart McDonald MP for Glasgow South Tweeted,

    “Sorry Tim, but it’ll take a lot more than sound bites to convince anyone that you’re serious about LGBT equality.”

     

    Guardian columnist Giles Fraser suggested that if Tim Farron thought that gay sex was sinful that the future of the party was in trouble and that he was “utterly lost as a LibDem leader”.

     

    In 2007 Tim Farron voted against the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations in 2007, a law which protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services. The law was used to bring Asher’s Bakery in Northern Ireland to account for refusing to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan on it.

  • Dannii Minogue To Make UK Return To Music Scene

    Darlings… we are officially excited and usually that takes a lot. Dannii, yes of the Minogues is making a return to the UK.

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  • REVIEW | Supreme Fabulettes At Leicester Square 2015

    Wigs at the ready, the Supreme Fabulettes are back…

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  • IVAN MASSOW: Video Hits 500K Views

    London Mayor hopeful, Ivan Massow, has amassed nearly 500,000 views on his viral video.

    Streaking ahead as a firm favourite for Londoners, the openly gay, self-made millionaire, has seen the video created for his campaign to make Londoners aware of Massow, uploaded a month ago, has reached nearly half a million hits on Facebook and 40,000 on YouTube.

     

    Meet Ivan Massow. He wants to be the next Mayor of London, and here's why. Posted by Ivan Massow on Monday, 18 May 2015
      The video has attracted over 2500 likes and 548 shares. In the video, Ivan tells the audience that he is gay, that he’s an activist, an ex-alcohol and that he has dyslexia. He mentions that he is adopted and that he is a disruptor. Along with Brighton born Ivan, 47, Andrew Boff, Sol Campbell, Simon Fawthrop, Zac Goldsmith and Stephen Greenhalgh are the Conservative candidates that have declared.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Camelot, The Shining City

    ★★★ | Camelot, The Shining City

    Sheffield Theatres join forces with the innovative Slung Low Theatre Company to present an intriguing and immersive theatrical experience. Whilst this is a show which takes inspiration from the legend of King Arthur and which borrows both characters and plot points, this is by no means a straight retelling, but instead sets the action in a dysfunctional, near-future Sheffield, where totalitarian rule by a military dictatorship sparks revolution, rebirth and riot.

    Utilising a cast of 150 people, made up of a mixture of professional actors and members of the Sheffield People’s Theatre, this is theatre on a big scale. Starting on the stage of the Crucible Theatre itself, the action, cast and audience subsequently spill out into the summer evening in Tudor Square outside the theatre itself; with the action then moving to the Peace Gardens in the town centre for the final act.

    Soldiers patrol the crowds, riot police with spotlights line the roofs of the neighbouring buildings, rioters mingle with the audience members, military jeeps sweep up the square, a taxi is smashed during a riot and pyrotechnics light up the twilight of the evening as the show culminates. This is not just your run of the mill street theatre; it is street theatre on an impressive and grand scale.

    Where this show is a real success is that it quite literally places you; as an audience member; right in the middle of the action, with the play taking place all around you. Each audience member is given a headset with a radio receiver, which allows you not only to hear every word spoken by the cast, but also allows for interior monologues of the characters to be heard, for atmospheric music and sound effects to consume you and to effectively isolate you from the “real world” making you feel even more a part of what is being portrayed in front of you.

    Whilst the actual story itself was not particularly strong and the performances were never more than functional, there was some clever writing involved. Key plot points were written into the story to signify the change of performance venue, and even the transporting of the audience was part of the play itself, not only flowing with the story, but including you being surrounded by the cast still in character. There were a number of local references which further assisted in blurring the lines of the real world and world on stage; and the presentation and grandiose nature of the whole thing was tremendously impressive.

    As someone who is fortunate enough to frequent the theatre regularly, this was not only very well and smartly staged, but was a wholly different and highly enjoyable theatrical experience unlike any other I have attended. For those looking for a very unique evening of theatre, look no further.

    Camelot – The Shining City is currently playing at Sheffield Theatres until 18th July 2015. For details and tickets, visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or call the box office on 0114 249 6000

  • 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%.”

  • Another Gay Bar Closes In London, Barcode Closes Without Warning

    London’s once-thriving gay scene is diminishing after another venue has announced its closure last month.

    Barcode in Vauxhall has announced without warning that it is to close on Saturday after 9 years in existence.

    Barcode is just one of a number of other gay spaces that have closed in London this year. Black Cap and The Joiner’s Arms were both shuttered in 2015.

  • Surrey Gay Film Festival Line Up Announced

    The second annual LGBT film festival will take place again in Redhill, Surrey in August.

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  • LGBT Community Has New Pub In Bangor, North Wales

    A year after Bangor’s only gay venue, The Three Crowns burnt down the new management of The White Lion hope to give the LGBT community a safe space in North Wales. (more…)