Private life, public judgements
By Nhamo
It has to be said that something is awry when rumours about a politician's sexuality leave him feeling forced to publicise the miscarriages his wife has suffered. Quite what that something is, however, is harder to pinpoint than it would have been in the past. William Hague made his extraordinary statement on Wednesday despite serving in a government alongside openly gay ministers. Homosexuality is not the bar to office that it once was, and yet gay politicians face a distinctive pressure to declare themselves as such.
While suggestions that the foreign secretary is anything other than straight are no more than gossip, in a truly tolerant society there would be nothing to gossip about. To see that there still is, consider the case of Crispin Blunt, the prisons minister who last week let the press know he was leaving his wife to "come to terms" with being gay. While it may indeed be OK to be gay in public life, it is not done to be unsure about it. The very possibility of bisexuality can sometimes run into the same disbelief that Queen Victoria is said to have shown towards lesbianism. In this warped context the harrowing experience of marital miscarriage can be offered up to counter allegations of sleeping with men, whereas it should be no more material than it would be in the case of an affair with a woman.
All sorts of people are coy in discussing who tugs on their heartstrings. But from Ron Davies' "moment of madness" 12 years ago to David Laws' resignation this spring, politicians of all stripes have paid a price for being anything less than upfront about any attraction they feel towards the same sex. That price is perhaps especially high for those cut from conservative cloth. This is less a point about the top of today's Conservative party, which David Cameron has gone to some lengths to lead towards tolerance, than about those parts of society where old prejudices still lurk. Homophobia has touched all wings of politics over the decades, but it is most easy to find on the right. Fusty assumptions that liberals first challenged two generations ago have only faced serious challenge within reactionary circles during the last few years. Some of the mud hurled Mr Hague's way seems to trace back to his own constituency association, while Mr Blunt's local party is reportedly "unhappy" that he had dared to keep his private feelings private. While the slow tide towards tolerance appears irreversible, Mr Cameron's own vote against fair access to IVF for would-be lesbian mothers is another reminder that it has a way to go.
The prime minister was nonetheless standing solidly with his foreign secretary yesterday, just as he stood alongside Mr Blunt, whose welcome political survival is a heartening reminder of how times have progressed. It has often been said that sex itself is less politically poisonous than all the connected questions of finance, probity or supposed security risks, and that is doubly true today. The only possible public interest question in connection with Mr Hague is whether any hypothetical feelings he harboured for his aide Chris Myers prompted him to appoint him as a special adviser. Even if this did happen, it is not certain that any rule would have been broken, since such rules as there are state that advisers are "exempt from the general requirement that civil servants should be appointed on merit".
Just as MPs were once able to appoint their spouses as secretaries, ministers recruiting advisers are still unaccountable for their choice. As we report today, the coalition is placing political staffers into supposedly apolitical official roles, perhaps to avoid taking flak for creating more of the unpopular special adviser posts. That is the wrong response, but so is a kneejerk bar on all political appointees. In order to work with an apolitical bureaucracy, ministers need to be able make a few appointments of their own. They ought, however, to be answerable for these. Making them so would help to prevent private lives from being dragged into the public mire.
Marc Silcock (Jackson Walsh, 'Emmerdale')
By Nhamo
What are your thoughts on the reaction to the Aaron and Jackson storyline?
"It's been unbelievable the amount of people that have been in contact with myself and Danny throughout the storyline. We set out to make a point and showcase the issues that we have been. Personally, I never expected it to be as big as it's become. It's a massive weight off our shoulders to know that people in the same situation are relating to the characters. It's been fantastic."
Do you think Aaron and Jackson are meant to be together?
"There are points where it looks like they're the perfect couple but on the other hand, there are underlying problems with both characters, especially Aaron. It'd be difficult for them to be together forever - it's probably be too much of a fairytale for Aaron to settle down with his first ever boyfriend. They'll be together for a while, but it'd be Disneyland to think that they'll end up as 40-year-old blokes getting married and adopting kids."
"Pauline's such a fantastic actress - I'm so excited that I'm going to be working with her. It'll be great to know a little more about Jackson's family!"
What's it like working with Danny?
"When he's out of work, he's one of the funniest guys but when he's at work, he's so focussed on every single scene. It's scary sometimes having to work with him because you know that at no point there'll be any let-up! He knows exactly where his character is from the scene before, what time it was… It's fantastic, though, because it makes me want to work harder!"
Were the kissing scenes awkward to start with?
"Danny and I sat down and had a quick chat about it beforehand. We're not going to lie and say that it's not difficult for two straight guys to kiss each other, because it was difficult and a bit awkward. But it's only as uncomfortable as you make it, so we had a chat, decided what we were comfortable with and just got on with it. We're not going to start doing it in our spare time!"
"Don't even get me started on the Soap Awards! It's the way the voting goes, though. Danny apparently had the problem of coming second in a lot of categories. The stuff he filmed with Dominic Brunt was incredible. I do think it was wrong that he didn't get anything, but there's always next year. It's brought the whole cast together and it's made us all want to work that bit harder so we don't go through the same thing next year."
Aaron turns to Jackson during next week's episodes and confides that he's being bullied at community payback…
"The relationship between Aaron and Jackson's still a bit frosty since Aaron attacked him. Now Jackson's working in the village, they're trying to make it a little easier for each other to get along. Aaron 'lets slip' that someone is bullying him at his community service for being gay. Jackson's quite dismissive of him, though."
What happens when Jackson sees Aaron about to be attacked by Wayne?
"The bully, Wayne, follows Aaron back to the village and Jackson sees their altercation - Wayne's actually threatening him with a spanner! Jackson eventually goes over to help Aaron and sort Wayne out. Jackson knows that if Aaron gets into another incident, he'll be sent to prison. Wayne eventually skulks off and that's the key turning point in the thawing of Aaron and Jackson's relationship. As soon as you see it, you see that Jackson really does like Aaron."
"They end up going to the pub and talk turns to Aaron's suicide attempt. It's the first time Aaron's opened up about it and Jackson just wants to understand why. At this point, you actually start to see that Jackson wants a relationship with Aaron because it seems like he's finally coming to terms with his sexuality. From that, they take the next step and end up back at Smithy where they have their first passionate kiss. It all leads from there."
Aaron and Jackson become involved in Holly's drug story, don't they?
"Yeah, they do. With Aaron comes Jackson and they get trapped by the whole situation and have to start keeping secrets from everyone else. But where that leads I actually don't know."
Protesters against "Homophobic Pope" asked to Show Restraint
By Editor
The British
prime minister's special representative for Pope Benedict's visit
to the UK says protesters should show restraint.
Chris Patten, a former governor of Hong Kong and Tory minister, urged critics of the Pope to show tolerance.
The Pope is due to visit the UK for four days in September and gay and secular groups have already said they will hold demonstrations to protest the trip.
Pope Benedict has repeatedly attacked homosexuality and gay marriage in the last few years, along with equality laws, abortion, contraception and the use of condoms to fight HIV.
Mr Patten, who was appointed by David Cameron to help coordinate the visit, told Reuters: "I hope that (the protests) will be done with restraint, and that it will be done with a show of tolerance.
"It would be an extraordinary irony if those who polemicise past intolerance by churches are to become themselves the proponents of intolerance towards churches."
Speaking yesterday, he added that the public cost of the visit was likely to rise by up to 50 per cent to £10-12 million, excluding security.
The Catholic Church is expected to have to pay out more than £7 million, although the Spectator reported last month that Catholic archbishops of England and Wales were told at a private meeting that costs had risen to nearer £14 million.
The church was left heavily in debt after the last papal visit, that of Jean Paul in 1982.
However, the British National Secular Society believes that the true cost of the visit could be closed to £100 million (R1 200million) due to the Pope's security.
Source & Photo: PinkNews.
Landmark Gay Asylum Decision In UK
By EditorTwo gay men have won the right to asylum in the UK, after claiming they faced persecution in their own countries; Cameroon and Iran.
The panel of judges on the UK Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to allow the appeal.
They had been refused asylum on the grounds they could hide their sexuality by behaving discreetly. The men's case was that this tolerability test was contrary to the Refugee Convention, to which the UK is a party.
British Home Secretary Theresa May said the judgement vindicated the coalition government's stance, BBC reports.
Under the previous government the Home Office had contested the case, saying it had taken sexuality into account when making its decisions.
The decision is expected to create a complete change in the approach that will be taken by tribunals and courts to applications for asylum by gay people, as all future applications of a similar nature will have to apply the Supreme Court's guidance.
Lord Hope read out the judgement, saying: "To compel a homosexual person to pretend that his sexuality does not exist or suppress the behaviour by which to manifest itself is to deny his fundamental right to be who he is.
"Homosexuals are as much entitled to freedom of association with others who are of the same sexual orientation as people who are straight."
Chief executive of British gay lobby group Stonewall, Ben Summerskill, is welcoming the ruling.
"Demanding that lesbian or gay people return home to conceal their sexuality bears no resemblance to the reality of gay life in many countries. We're delighted that the Government is responding to what we asked of all the political parties in the run-up to the election," he says.
Summerskill says Stonewall's report No Going Back shows that UK Border Agency staff urgently need better guidance and support to deal with cases involving gay asylum seekers.
"We look forward to working with UKBA and ministers on these issues."
Church of England may Appoint Gay Bishop
By Editor
The Church of England may be on the verge of
promoting a gay priest to bishop, a step that would widen the
split over sexuality in the global Anglican Communion.
If that happens, it would appear to be a significant turnaround for Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spiritual leader of the Church of England and the world's Anglicans, who recently imposed sanctions on the U.S. Episcopal Church for electing a lesbian bishop.
According to newspaper reports, Williams is prepared to back the elevation of the Very Rev. Jeffrey John, who withdrew seven years ago from an appointment as a suffragan (assistant) bishop in the face of a heated controversy about his homosexuality. Williams' office will not comment.
"I think the strength of the opposition is much weaker this time," Rev. Canon Giles Goddard, the chairman of Inclusive Church, said Tuesday. His group was founded by people disappointed by John's failure to become a bishop in 2003.
John, who is now dean of St. Albans Cathedral, might be seen as a
more acceptable candidate than the U.S. bishop because he has
declared he is celibate — and therefore not in violation of
church teaching.
Read the full story in the Associated Press
New Zealand Police Distribute PRIDE Wristbands
By Editor
New Zealand cops are giving
out rainbow-coloured wristbands to show they’re keen to work with
the country’s queer citizens on the issues which affect them.
The multi-coloured bands say Stand tall – be proud. Safer Communities Together.
The NZ Police’s network of Diversity Liaison Officers hope the wristbands will promote that fact that Kiwi cops are ready and willing to listen, reports GayNZ.com.
“That we really encourage everybody in the community, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to report things that happen to them to the police,” says the project’s organizer Kirsten Newman.
Newman says police the liaison officers really want to break down traditional barriers, where queer folk did not feel confident and comfortable about reporting crimes.
"I think they're getting less and less now . . . but you know, we've still got a wee way to go yet so hopefully things like the bracelets and DLOs being at events provide a good base.
There are Diversity Liaison Officers in police districts throughout New Zealand.
Source: GayNZ.com.
George Michael Crashes into Shopfront
By Editor
Singer George Michael was arrested
early Sunday morning after he crashed his car into a shop in
London.Michael, 47, was caught on surveillance tape bouncing his Range Rover over the curb and crashing into a corner store called "Snappy Snaps" in North London.
No one was hurt.
The Daily Mail reports that he was not given a Breathalyzer at the scene and that he insists he had not been drinking.
Police arrested him, took him down to the station, then let him post bail pending an August 13 court date.
The accident happened after parties for London's Gay Pride celebration were wrapping up.
This is the seventh time police have been called to the scene of a Michael driving incident. One crime led to a two-year license suspension.
JONATHAN AGASSI PULLS OUT OF MADRID PRIDE
By Nhamo
Jonathan Agassi has decided to withdraw
from participating in the upcoming Madrid Gay Pride events due to
his outrage with the organizers’ decision to ban an Israeli
delegation from its upcoming Pride March.
Originally scheduled to perform with one of Europe’s biggest club producers, SuperMartXé, on July 2, 2010, Agassi joins LGBT Israeli performers such as Dana International in removing themselves from the festivities. All have been in reaction to recent events surrounding the Spanish Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transexuals, and Bisexual’s declaration to exclude a group of gay Tel Aviv residents from marching in the Madrid parade.
“It’s terrible that the organizers made such an awful decision, especially since Israel is so supportive of gay rights, but I’m proud of my choice,” stated Agassi. “Madrid was supposed to be my first pride event outside of Israel and I was so excited about it! But I have no regrets, and I will never forget where I came from. Israel is and will always be my home, and I will forever support and stand up for my country!”
Surrounded by the hostility and intolerance of the Middle East, Israel is the sole beacon of freedom. In every neighboring country homosexuality is illegal, punishable by imprisonment and/or the death penalty. Presently Israel remains the only country in the Middle East to provide legal protection for gays. Many LGBT individuals have relocated to Israel, often fleeing cruel aggression that includes physical abuse, exile, or death. This nation’s perseverance and fight for civil rights has clearly been violated in Madrid’s decision of exclusion.
“I am proud that Jonathan, who was so excited to go to the biggest gay Pride in Europe, made a right decision,” stated Lucas Entertainment CEO and President Michael Lucas. “Spanish hypocrites failed to realize that he is not just a porn star but a man with principles. Jonathan and my crew filmed two movies in Spain just two months ago — I don’t think we will return.” Lucas has previously written about the topic in his column for The Advocate. It is available here: http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Commentary/Michael_Lucas_on_Madrids_Bad_Pride/
In the past year, Agassi has rocketed to adult stardom. Making his debut in Michael Lucas’ Men of Israel, Agassi has proved his versatility and sexual veracity in such Lucas Entertainment titles as Inside Israel, Paris Playboys, Spanish Seductions and most recently, Missing. More information, including a complete biography, can be found at the model’s official website, JonathanAgassi.comEuropean Court Rules Against Gay Marriage
By Editor
The European Court
of Human Rights has ruled against a gay couple seeking to marry
in Austria, the AP reported.
In a ruling handed down Thursday, the seven-judge panel ruled unanimously that countries are not obliged to allow gay marriage.
Horst Michael Schalk and Johann Franz Kopf challenged Austria's gay marriage ban, but the Strasbourg-based court rejected the couple's claim that their rights had been violated.
A new law dubbed “marriage light” by the media took effect on January 1. The law, which grants gay and lesbian couples many of the benefits and obligations of marriage, including pension rights and alimony payments in the event of a split, has been criticized by activists because the law forbids gay couples from adoption or artificial insemination.
The panel said there was “an emerging European consensus towards legal recognition of same-sex couples,” but refused to rule against nations that had not granted such rights.
It was the second setback in as many weeks for the gay marriage movement in liberal Europe.
A Berlin court has ruled that a gay couple's Canadian marriage will be recognized as a registered partnership in Germany. The union gives gay and lesbian couples most of the rights of marriage except joint adoption and full tax benefits.
Seven European countries – Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and most recently Iceland – have legalized gay marriage. Other countries, including Germany, Great Britain and France, recognized gay couples with alternative unions, such as registered partnerships.
Shooting Fatality at San Francisco Gay Pride
By EditorSan Francisco's 40th annual pride celebrations were marred late on Saturday night by a shooting incident in the Castro district which left a 19-year old man dead. Two other people, a man and a woman, were also hit by gunfire but are expected to make a full recovery.
The incident took place at around 11.30pm in the Castro district, a neighbourhood which has been heavily populated with gay men and lesbians since the 1960s. The streets were thronging with partygoers celebrating 'Pink Saturday' when an unidentified man pulled out a gun and began firing.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos, in which police officers rushed into the crowd, who in response to the sound of gunfire, began to throw bottles and other objects.
One partygoer from Los Angeles told MIRRORBALLS, "I saw a massive
wave of cops with their guns drawn coming to our area . . . then
people started screaming and running away so I went back to the
ground thinking 'Oh my God, this is real.'"
Police don't believe the violence was tied to pride events but
was instead the result of an earlier dispute; the dead man,
Stephen Powell, 19, is reportedly the intended victim of the
attack.
The gunman was arrested at the scene and his weapon taken for
evidence.
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