THEGAYUK

Tag: USA

  • Double Murder Suspect May Have Met Gay Victims On Social App

    A man who is suspected of killing two gay men in Seattle may have met them on a social app.

    According to documents released by the courts, Brown may have used a social app to meet with the two men, and that there are no signs of robbery or drugs as a motive. Police say that Ahmed Said, may have been targeted because he was a gay man with a Muslim sounding name.

    ‘It is evident that the murders were premeditated and unprovoked and part of a common scheme or plan,” Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wyman Yip wrote in the charging documents. ‘The evidence from the crime scene, Said’s vehicle, and the autopsies suggest that the victims were essentially executed.’

    The victims had been enjoying an evening at R Place, a popular gay nightclub on Capitol Hill. According to his friends, Ahmed Said told them that he was meeting a “friend” outside the club.

    Brown could potentially face the death penalty if convicted of the double homicide. A Judge in Ocean County has issued a $500,000 arrest warrant for Brown.

    The gay community has been warned by Police Chiefs to be careful when meeting new people on apps such as Grindr or Jack’d.

    Ali Muhammad Brown, 30, was charged with two counts of aggravated first-degree murder. Two gay men were his victims. Ahmed Said 27, and Dwone Anderson-Young, 23 were shot in the head on the 1st of June near the home of one of the victims.

    Brown is currently on the run and police are hunting him in New Jersey following a cafe robbery and attempted car-jacking. Brown has been described as an ‘American-born Muslim extremist.’

  • Burger King Feels The Wrath Of Homophobic Customers

    Burger King Feels The Wrath Of Homophobic Customers

    After Burger King announced that they would sell the Proud Whopper yesterday hundreds of customers have taken to the companies Facebook book to complain.

    (more…)

  • Liberty Counsel: Some Homosexuality Caused By Abuse Of A Paedophile

    The founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel says that many gay people develop unwanted attractions because of childhood abuse.

    A ‘Gay Cure’ ban will stand in California after the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a law that bans conversion therapy. The therapy is aimed at trying to change the sexuality of gay people under the age of 18. However the court ruled that banning this kind of therapy did not violate free speech rights and that it had an interest in banning treatments it considered harmful.

    A non-profit Christian legal aid group, Liberty Counsel, which had petitioned the Supreme court to take the hearing argued that there was no scientific basis to say that gay cure therapy was harmful.

    Many religious groups still argue that homosexuality is not a natural part of humanity and that a person can change their orientation with therapy. Liberty Counsel also spends its time and resources on fighting against same-sex marriage, civil unions and adoption by the LGBT community.

    ‘I am deeply saddened for the families we represent and for the thousands of children that our professional clients counsel, many of whom developed these unwanted attractions because of abuse of a pedophile. The minors we represent do not want to act on same-sex attractions, nor do they want to engage in such behavior.

    ‘They are greatly benefiting from this counseling. Their grades have gone up, their self-esteem has improved, and their relationships at home are much improved,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

    ‘These children have been victimized twice – first by the likes of Jerry Sandusky, and second by legislators and judges who have essentially barged into their private therapy rooms and told them that they must pursue their unwanted and dangerous same-sex sexual attractions and behavior,” said Staver.

    ‘The minors we represent do not want to act on same-sex attractions,’he said, ‘nor do they want to engage in such behavior. They are greatly benefiting from this counseling.’

    Mr Staver also suggested that the fight for gay convertion therapy was far from over saying,’I can assure you the battle over change therapy is far from over. We will be back.’

  • COLUMN | Everything old is new again

    Every summer our movie reviewer Roger Walker-Dack re-locates to Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. In fact he is there right now to cover their International Film Festival exclusively for THEGAYUK.

    This rather stunning small coastal town that is a prime vacation destination has a fun packed calendar that has literally special events for everyone from Bears to Circuit Boys, to Women of Color & Gay Family Week to ensure that all shades of LGBT people are catered for. But away from silver screen I have noticed a surprising new trend in the roster of entertainers who are flocking to perform on all the main stages here. Whilst there are still most of the regular stars such as the impeccably hot Well Strung Quartet who play as well as they look, so many of the new stars this year are very old indeed.

    So old in fact that it’s a wonder that these legendary Broadway stars can, and are still, performing. At the top of the scale is the original Hello Dolly Miss Carol Channing who is now 92 years old. She is at least sharing her stage with a much younger performer, the long-legged Tommy Tune who’s barely 75 years old. The potty-mouth Joan Rivers who clocks in at 80 years old will be here, so will jazz singer and favorite guest on the late Johnny Carson’s Show, Miss Marilyn Maye who will be 86 years old.

    Donna McKenrick who won a Tony in the original version of A Chorus Line is still doing the high kicks at age 71, and then the week later Helen ‘I am Woman’ Reddy, the queen of 70’s pop and who is now 72, will be doing her stuff.

    One of the youngest of this bunch of Tony Award winners is Liza Minnelli with just 68 years under her belt is probably the most likely one to send a sick note instead especially as she is now more famous for the concerts she cancels than the ones she performs. And then there is Andrea McArdle the original Annie and who is STILL singing The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow as she has done for the past 36 years, is a mere 50 years old.

    P Town does have this wonderful joyous spirit and real sense of community that is both embracing and encompassing. I’m sure then if one of these Grand Dames doesn’t show then they will be generous and forgiving, and at the very least send out one of the plethora of the local talented Drag Queens who can probably do a better Liza (or Carol) than they can do themselves.

  • Pedal For Pride Launches In Aid Of Stonewall And The Albert Kennedy Trust

    Charity challenge tour operator Global Adventure Challenges has launched the first ever Pedal For Pride, a tough 400 km cycle challenge across the state of California, which sets off in the majestic Yosemite national park, takes in spectacular lakes and mountain scenery and ends with a breathtaking finish over the Golden Gate Bridge in time for the 45th Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Pride celebrations in San Francisco (27 & 28 June 2015).

    Participants will be motivated to do the challenge by raising money for their favourite charities. For ‘Pedal for Pride,’ Global Adventure Challenges has partnered with some of the UK’s leading LGBT charities including – Stonewall and the The Albert Kennedy Trust – but cyclists can raise funds for any other charity from cancer research to animal welfare.

    Peter Robinson, Director of Events and co-founder of Global Adventure Challenges said: ‘This is the first cycle challenge of its kind and there will be an incredible atmosphere throughout the whole of the challenge as each kilometre you ride will take you nearer to San Fran’s biggest party of the year. The days’ cycling will be long and tough, but well worth it to feel that incredible sense of achievement as you ride over the Golden Gate Bridge and then spend the whole weekend enjoying the celebrations as a reward for your hard work.’

    The challenge kicks off in the monumental Yosemite National Park with its massive peaks and towering forests and then rides around Turlock and Camanche Lakes on mountain roads. It then cuts a course along the Pacific Coast Road, high above the surf and takes in golden beaches and laid-back towns.

    To sign up, registration costs £399 plus £1800 for the self-funding option or a minimum sponsorship of £3600.
    For more details and to book call 01244 676 454 or visit www.globaladventurechallenges.com.

  • New Book For Children About Same-Sex Marriage

    A new book, which is already getting a lot of attention across the pond in the US, is helping children learn and understand same-sex marriage.

    Jeffrey Miles, a business professor at the University of the Pacific (in California) has written a children’s picture book with a same-sex marriage called, The Princes and The Treasure.

    The book tells the story of two handsome princes who go on a quest to save a princess, but fall in love with each other, get married, and live happily ever after. With the progress of same-sex marriage, I wanted young and old alike to be able to read a fairy tale story that included a gay marriage.

  • Shocking video of reactions to gay PDAs

    A new video has emerged showing what some straight patrons at a restaurant in Mississippi, US, do and say when a gay couple start to show affection to each other.

    A gay couple were hired by ABC News in Mississippi to show public displays of affection in a restaurant and then filmed the resulting reactions from other patrons.

    The short film shows the couple being told that they were sinning, they received awkward looks, some patrons said that they would physically move away and the two were laughed at when they kissed.

    Just to prove that the discomfort caused by the PDAs weren’t solely because of the actors’ sexuality, ABC also tried the experiment with an opposite sex couple.

    Customers reacted entirely differently and some even stuck up for the heterosexual couple, when ABC’s stooge tried to make a scene about the straight PDA.

    The best bit is for last though, as two college students stand up for the couple, saying to ABC’s stooge, when she made a scene about the gay PDA,

    ‘There’s a reason why half the &^%$^%$ world hates America, and it’s people like you. Because you have no acceptance for anything else in the world. I’m so *&^%$ pissed right now.’

    In Mississippi, same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2003, but the state does not permit same-sex marriage, adoption by a same-sex couple, and the laws do not positively address discrimination based on gender identity or sexuality.

    In a 2001 Public Policy Polling survey found that only 13% of Mississippi voters supported the legalisation of same-sex marriage, while 78% were opposed and 9% were not sure.

  • Condom Requirement Law For Porn Stars Clears First Hearing

    A Bill which would see all adult performers in California required by law to wear condoms has cleared its first hurdle.

    The landmark and controversial California Assembly Bill AB1576 which requires condoms in all adult films made statewide in the state of California, cleared the state Assembly’s Appropriations Committee earlier today in a 9 to 3 vote.

    Today, Isadore Hall and Michael Weinstein forced the AB1576 bill down the throats of the Adult Entertainment ndusry despite the huge amount of opposition of adult film performers themselves as well as LGBT political groups.

    Now, as stated in the bill, AB1576 denies performers control of their own body, their own sexuality, and their own privacy. The Free Speech Coalition collected over five hundred signatures of adult performers who have come out in huge numbers in opposition to this bill, despite Assembly member Hall’s endless shaming.

    Reuters reported on how vial Assembly member Isadore Hall (pictured right) of the 64 Assembly District has been towards performers of the Adult Film Industry. ‘

    For the past few month, Hall has portrayed performers as a public health hazard, using discredited studies that read like Victorian pulp novels. This isn’t about protecting performers, this is a morality crusade aimed at driving a legal, regulated business out of the state and underground.’

    by Paul Goldberg

  • Nearly Half Of America Disapproved Of The Michael Sam Kiss

    According to polls and surveys America has never been readier for gay marriage, gay sportsmen – just plain gayness, that is until they kiss.

    Huffington Post has revealed stats that show 47% of Americans thought that EPSN broadcasting the now famous kiss between Michael Sam and his boyfriend Vito Cammisano was inappropriate, even though players kissing their girlfriends and wives is commonplace.

    Up to 20% of people polled would disapprove of their sports team hiring an openly gay player.

    Michael Sam made history last week when he became the first openly gay footballer to be drafted into the NFL.

    The article at Huffington Post goes onto explain:

    “Americans under age 30 had no problem with coverage of the kiss, by a 55 percent to 29 percent margin. Those between ages 30 and 44 were evenly divided: 40 percent said it was appropriate; 39 percent said it was inappropriate. And a majority of older Americans said it was inappropriate, including 52 percent of those between ages 45 and 64, and 69 percent of those 65 and older”.

  • TODAY IN GAY | Massachusetts becomes the first state in the US to legalise gay marriage

    TODAY IN GAY | Massachusetts becomes the first state in the US to legalise gay marriage

    Today in Gay History 17th May 2014

    Massachusetts becomes the first state in the US to legalise gay marriage in 2004, meaning that the state is currently celebrating 10 years of same-sex marriage.

    There are 17 states in the US which currently allow same-sex marriage which include:
    New Mexico, Delaware, Hawaii and Iowa.

  • Miami Dolphins Fines Don Jones Over Michael Sam Twitter Comments

    Miami Dolphins have fined Don Jones an undisclosed amount after tweeting after Michael Sam’s kiss and acceptance as the NFL’s first openly gay player.

    Michael Sam, 24, was drafted to the NFL as the first openly gay player yesterday, however not everyone seemed to be happy about the announcement.

    Miami Dolphins player Don Jones tweeted shortly after the news broke: “horrible”. The tweet has since been deleted and Jones was fined an undisclosed amount. He has been excused from team activities and must undergo educational training.

    He has also commented:

    ‘I want to apologise to Michael Sam for the inappropriate comments I made on social media,” Jones told the Miami Dolphins website.

    ‘I take full responsibility for them and I regret that these tweets took away from his draft moment.

    ‘Last year when I was drafted in the seventh round I remember the emotions and happiness I felt when I received the call that gave me an opportunity to play for an NFL team. I wish him all the best in his NFL career.’