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  • Orlando gunman 911 transcripts released

    Orlando gunman 911 transcripts released

    Transcripts of phone calls made to emergency services on the night of the Pulse massacre by the gunman  have been released by the FBI.

    Omar_Mateen

    Partial transcripts have been released by the FBI of the calls made to the emergency services by the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay night club in Orlando.

    Omar Matten allegedly made a number of calls during the siege which began around 2:00AM and lasted 3 hours. The first call made to the emergency services was 30 minutes after the first shots were fired.

    The first call (see below) lasted about 50 seconds.

    Police: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.

    Mateen; In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial [in Arabic]

    Police: What?

    Mateen: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]. I let you know, I’m in Orlando and I did the shootings.

    Police: What’s your name?

    Mateen: My name is I pledge of allegiance to [omitted].

    Police: Ok, What’s your name?

    Mateen: I pledge allegiance to [omitted] may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of [omitted].

    Police: Alright, where are you at?

    Mateen: In Orlando.

    Police: Where in Orlando?

    [End of call].

    During the evening Mateen spoke to Orlando’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) three times first at 2:48Am, then at 3:03AM and then at 3:24AM – the transcripts for these communications have not been released in full.

    However it is during these conversation the shooter reportedly identified himself as an Islamic soldier and that America should stop bombing Syria and Iraq.

    He also warned that he had explosive vests – the kind used by the terrorists “in France”.  No vests were found.

    The FBI issued a statement in which it said out of respect for the victims of the shooting that it would not release transcripts of communications with victims of the assault.

    “Out of respect for the victims of this horrific tragedy, law enforcement will not be releasing audio of the shooter’s 911 calls at this time, nor will law enforcement be releasing audio or transcripts of the calls made by victims at the Pulse nightclub during the incident.”

     

    ALSO READ: metropolitan police to beef up visibility at Pride In London this weekend

    ALSO READ: Nearly a quarter of the LGBT community fear for their safety on the gay scene

    ALSO READ: Who are the victims of the Pulse massacre?

     

  • Doctors in Mississippi will be able to deny LGBT patients, lawfully

    Doctors in Mississippi will be able to deny LGBT patients, lawfully

    American’s most sweeping anti-LGBT law is heading to Federal court in Mississippi this week.

    A law that will allow Mississippi officials and service providers such as doctors to deny services to LGBT people on the basis of “sincerely held” religious beliefs is heading into federal court in Mississippi for a series of hearings before U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves.

    The law HB1523 is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2016.

    On Monday, June 20 at 9:30 a.m. Judge Reeves will hold oral arguments on whether to reopen Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant to address a provision of HB 1523 that allows public officials to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

    Mississippi is home to over 60,000 LGBT adults and an estimated 11,400 Transgender youth and adults, according to 2016 data published by The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

    The state is also home to 3,500 same-sex couples, 29 percent of whom are raising children.

    Lead counsel Roberta Kaplan says,

    “In 1776, the founders of our nation declared that ‘all men are created equal’ and that they are ‘endowed’ with ‘certain unalienable rights,’ including ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’

    “Almost 240 years later, on July 1 of this year, the State of Mississippi intends to implement a law that could hardly be more inconsistent with these principles,

    “That law, HB 1523, declares that Mississippians who hold certain religious beliefs–namely, that gay people should not be permitted to marry (among others)–should have special rights and privileges, including the right to discriminate against and undermine the dignity of LGBT citizens.

    “Given this obvious contradiction between HB 1523 and the core principles that our country has long stood for, we are confident that HB 1523 will not survive review by a federal court.”

     

  • Star Trek Actor, Anton Yelchin Dies

    Actor Anton Yelchin has died at the age of 27

    Embed from Getty Images

    Actor Anton Yechin has died at the age of 27 after a tragic accident involving his own car. The Star Trek actor who played Checkov in the reboot of the Star Trek franchise in 2009, was struck by his own vehicle as it rolled down his steep drive at his home in Los Angeles.

    The car pinned him against a brick post box and a security fence. He was pronounced dead at 1.00AM  (8.00 AM GMT).

    Openly gay actor Zachary Quinto was one of first Star Trek cast to pay homage to the actor saying,

    “One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know. So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.”

    JJ Abrams also paid tribute to the actor saying,

    “You were brilliant, You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. Anton, you weren’t here nearly long enough. Missing you,”

    Yelchin’s publicist, Jennifer Allen, confirmed the actor’s death and said in a statement that his family wished for privacy.

    What Is 27 Club?

    Users on social media were quick to point out that as Yelchin was 27 – he might be considered part of 27 Club, which lists number of stars who died at the age of 27.

    However the 27 Club is populated by musicians rather than actors.

    Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse are all considered part of the 27 Club.

  • Who were the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting victims?

    Here are the confirmed names of those who lost their lives in the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub, USA.

    Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

    Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

    Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

    Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

    Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

    Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

    Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

    Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

    Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

    Cory James Connell, 21 years old

    Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

    Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

    Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

    Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

    Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

    Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

    Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

    Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

    Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

    Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

    Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

    Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

    Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

    Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

    Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

    Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

    Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

    Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

    Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

    Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

    Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

    Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old

    Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

    Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

    Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

    Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

    Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

    Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

    Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

    Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old

    Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

    Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

    Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

    Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

    Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

    Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

    Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

    Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

    Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

     

    ALSO READ:  49 killed in gay club massacre in Orlando

    ALSO READ: Man arrested in NY after allegedly shouting he’d come back to gay bar “Orlando style”

    ALSO READ: Nearly one-quarter of LGBT+ people afraid to go out onto the scene after Orlando attack

  • Nearly a quarter of LGBTs afraid for their safety after Orlando massacre

    Nearly a quarter of LGBTs afraid for their safety after Orlando massacre

    Nearly a quarter of LGBT+ people in a flash poll said they were afraid for their safety after Orlando gay club massacre.

    Embed from Getty Images

    The LGBT+ community remain on high alert after an attack on a gay club in Orlando left 49 people dead.

    In a flash poll conducted by THEGAYUK 23% of people surveyed said that they were afraid for their safety after the deadly attack in Orlando.

    When asked if the attack in Orlando directly affected their feelings of safety in going out on the gay scene 23 per cent said that they were afraid.

    Seventy-seven per cent of those questioned said that they would not allow “hate to win” and they would not be put off going to gay clubs and bars.

     

    ALSO READ: Man arrested after threatening to come back “Orlando-style” at gay bar security staff.

     

  • Man threatens to “come back Orlando style” in NY gay bar

    Police in New York have confirmed that a man has been arrested after allegedly threatening to “come back “Orlando-style” to a bar’s security guard.

    A man in Bushwick, New York, has been arrested after an alleged verbal and physical assault on a the Happyfun Hideaway‘s security guard.

    According to witnesses the man shouted abuse and allegedly threatened to come back “Orlando-style” just days after a gun shoot out in the Orlando Pulse nightclub left 49 people dead.

    “I’m going to shoot this place up and get my 50 just like Orlando, Florida,

    “I’m going to come back Orlando-style!”

    According to the NYPD, Justin Rice, 40, was arrested soon after the incident which happened at 11.00PM at the Happy Hideaway bar on Monday night.

    He was charged with aggravated harassment and attempted assault.

    Rice had been at the bar when he was taken outside by bouncers, he is due back in court on the 17th June and bail was set at $10,000.

    A comment left on the bar’s Facebook page thanked its customers for their support.

    “We are open for business and, bewilderment at what an odd world we live in aside, everyone is free of harm and proud to be part of such a loving community that doesn’t stand for hate… the best thing you can do to show the world that we believe in love is to continue to support us and all of our queer and artistic communities…”

     

  • 50 People Killed at Gay Nightclub in Florida

    50 People Killed at Gay Nightclub in Florida

    50 people are now reported to have been killed at a mass shooting in a Florida gay club in the early hours of Sunday morning which has left many casualties according to Orlando Police.

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  • Meet The Christian School That Can Expel Students If They Have Gay Family Member

    A school in Kansas says it can expel students if they have gay family members.

    CREDIT: © tomwang Depositphotos
    CREDIT: © tomwang Depositphotos

    A Christian high school in Wichita, Kansas, with 322 pupils, apparently has the right to expel students attending the school if the school’s management learns that a student has a gay family member.

    Attendance to the school requires a mother, a father and the student to sign a contract like form, which outlines the school’s policy on adhering to a “Christ-centred college”.

    The school’s policy isn’t available on the school’s website, which appears to be down for maintenance, however a leaked copy of the so-called Statement of Understanding, which a student and their parents must sign before attending the private school, states,

    “When the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home is counter to the school’s understand of biblical lifestyle, including the practice or promotion of LGBT lifestyle or alternative gender identity – the school should have the right in its sole discretion, to deny the admission of an applicant or discontinue enrollment of a current student.”

    A former student at the school, Morgan Douglas Faulkner admitted to being one of alumni who leaked the document.

    In statement forwarded to the Advocate Faulkner said,

    “We leaked this document in order to raise awareness about Trinity’s policies to prospective students and parents who are on the fence about sending their children to Trinity for their academics, and ultimately for the greater good,”

  • HOTEL REVIEW | Hilton Times Square

    HOTEL REVIEW | Hilton Times Square

    Gloriously central and fabulously touristic, the Hilton Time Square is the perfect place to book if you’re staying in New York for the first time.

    Hilton Times Square
    Right in the heart of it

    Overview | The Room | The People | The Location | The Gay Scene | The Verdict

    One of the things you’ll find if you’re staying in Manhattan is that hotel rooms come in two sizes. Small and extra small – that is unless you’re staying at the Hilton near Times Square.

    Some may argue that the location is too conventional and too safe and that the “real” New York happens several blocks away, but if you’re a Big Apple novice and you’re looking for a friendly place in a city of over 8 million people, the Hilton is a perfect choice.

  • Twitter Finally Suspends Troll Azealia Banks

    Azealia Banks has, it seems, been shut down by Twitter after an outrageous homophobic and racist rant was sent on her verified Twitter account to former One Direction star Zayn Malik.

    CREDIT: © chbm89 Depositphotos

    Azealia banks has been booted off the social media platform, Twitter, after an extended vile homophobic and racist rant at Zayn Malik was sent from her official account.

    She has also been removed as the headline act at London’s Born And Bred Festival after organisers saying they could not tolerate Banks’ language.

    The rant included calling the former One Direction singer a faggot as well as using racial slurs. The UK’s Home Office is reportedly investigating to see whether Ms Banks will be allowed into the country for any future engagements.

     

    ALSO READ: Gay social commentator Milo has his Twitter account unverified

     

    The Home Office has, in the past, banned entry for people for their homophobic views.

    In a statement issued to NME, the Home Office has said:

    “Coming to the UK is a privilege, and we expect those who come here to respect our shared values. The Home Secretary has the power to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good or if their exclusion is justified on public policy grounds.”

    The entertainer’s account on Twitter appears to be suspended.

    The rapper’s verified account has used the social platform to call gay men homophobic slurs and has had a number of public fallouts with Perez Hilton. However she has stated that she couldn’t be homophobic because she has gay employees.

  • Gay Man Killed After Meeting On Hook Up Site

    A man was killed after arranging a meeting on a hook up site. Four men have been charged with his murder.

    A man in his 40s was robbed, brutally beaten, stripped and left for dead after he arranged to meet someone for sex online in Nampa, Idaho.

    Four men charged with robbery and murder could now face the death penalty. Three Nampa residents, Kelly Schneider, 22, Kevin Tracy, 21, Jayson Woods, 28, and Daniel Henkel, 23 were arraigned in Canyon County court. They face charges of felony robbery and first-degree murder.

    According to KTVB.com the victim, Steven Nelson, 49 arranged to meet with Kelly Schneider after meeting him on a hook up site. They arranged to meet at Gotts Point at Lake Lowell. When they arrived it is alleged that “Schneider threw Nelson to the ground and kicked him repeatedly.”

    During the attack Mr Nelson is reported to have pleaded for his life, begging his attackers not to kill him.

    They then allegedly stole his credit cards and wallet and keys, later withdrew $123 from Mr Nelson’s account. Henkel and Schneider were captured on CCTV using the victim’s bank cards to withdraw funds.

     

    After the attack Mr Nelson managed to seek the attention of nearby homeowners, who immediately called the emergency services. He had suffered broken ribs and was bleeding from the ear. He later died from a cardiac arrest a number of hours after the attack.

    Before he died Mr Nelson was able to speak to police about his attackers and was able to give descriptions leading to the arrest of the four men.