11/11/2013 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Rugby stars claim many gay players live a lie

Posted on 11/11/201312/11/2013 by Olivia Hall-Smith

Gareth Thomas, the first openly gay international rugby player has spoken out about his up-coming Hollywood biopic, stigma against homosexuals in sport and the 2014 Russian Winter Olympics.

The rugby legend announced that he was gay in 2009, becoming one of the first openly homosexual male athletes in any major sports team in the world. That year Gareth was also voted the most influential gay person in the UK by topping the Independent on Sunday Pink List.

Pre-production has recently begun on his Hollywood movie and speaking on Sportlobster TV, Gareth, who won 100 caps for his country, confirmed that Oscar-nominated Mickey Rourke will definitely play his part.

Gareth said: “Mickey has had a lot of stick for his image in the past, but he’s been training really hard to play this role. He is the right person for the part because he cares about who I am, he is not someone who just wants to win an award.”

The majority of filming is set to take place in Wales, South Africa and France. However the rugby scenes will be filmed separately to ensure they look convincing.

Gareth continued: “Unlike other films, we’re going to be careful to get the rugby looking right.”

However to Gareth, it is the message of the film that is the highest priority: “This movie isn’t about the money – it is about acceptance in sport for everyone. People take courage from my story in all walks of life and this is what matters.”

Gareths’ story is not dissimilar to Martina Navratilova, the lesbian tennis star who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 major women’s doubles titles and 10 major mixed doubles titles along with a myriad of other achievements.

“I met Martina Navratilova once, she told me that when she played at Wimbledon early in her career, just after she had publicly come out, many in the crowd actually sat on their hands when she came on court. However, she overcame these perceptions and became one of the most popular and successful players of all time.” Gareth said.

England and Wasps flanker, James Haskell says that to avoid similar negative reactions, some rugby players are hiding their sexuality:

“Statistically there must be gay rugby players out there but I don’t know of a single one. I feel bad for anyone who struggles to be true to who they are, as no one should have to live a lie. The fact a rugby player may say they prefer men to women does not have any relevance to the sport.”

Regarding questions raised about upcoming sporting events planned in countries where there are laws in place against homosexuality such as Russia where the 2014 Winter Olympics are being staged in Sochi and Qatar who are due to host the 2022 Fifa World Cup, Gareth has strong views:

“If I was part of a squad going to these countries – I would go there as a gay man and be the best at what I was doing and prove that their laws can not stop me at being the best I can be in my sport. These athletes only have one chance to be the best and nothing, not even laws against homosexuality, should hold them back.”

To view the interview on Sportlobster TV, CLICK HERE:

Protest planned outside offices of Manchester Pride today

Posted on 11/11/201311/11/2013 by Besi

A protest is planned outside the offices of Manchester Pride today, Monday November 11 at 12.15am.

Manchester Pride had indicated they would announce how much money had been raised for local LGBT charities from the 2013 event last Friday, November 8, but no announcement was forthcoming raising concerns that the amount raised could be the lowest since 1990.

Despite the recession, 38,000 tickets were sold for this years event

In 2012 the Pride registered charity had income of £991,656 and announced £52,000 would be distributed to good causes. It has since emerged that only £36,100 of that total was raised during the financial year and Julia Grant, the former organiser of the Gay Fest free events in 2001-2 claims the publicised amount had been topped up out of Pride reserves.

Today, gay village business owners and their staff, charity workers and members of the LGBT community in Manchester will stage a protest outside Pride HQ at their offices in the Manchester One building on the corner of Portland Street and Sackville Street.

The peaceful action starts at 12:15 and later will move to outside the Town Hall.

Manchester City Council claim that the Big Weekend brought in as much as £22 million of business across the city despite Pride receiving only a direct grant of £11,796 from the Council. Protestors point to the fact that a recent pop concert by Alicia Keys received Council funding of £425,000.

John Stewart the Chief Executive of Manchester Pride recently stood down and was replaced by interim appointee Mark Fletcher who has been the events freelance sponsorship manager since 2004.

Tony Cooper is Manager of VIA on Canal Street and a former Deputy Chair of the Village Business Association (VBA).

In a public statement this week he wrote: “I will remove all my support for Manchester Pride until I see appointments on the board that represent business and the community.”

“I have had dialogue with Manchester Pride for several weeks and I have not seen any change in the way they deal with issues and I find myself believing that they do not want to engage with the community at large and certainly not the businesses who support them to the tune of £40-60k every year.”

Geoff Stafford the co-founder of the Facebook campaign group Facts About Manchester Pride says the planned protest isn’t tied to any one particular group or organisation.

He said: “This feels like a turning point.”

“We’ve been campaigning for two-and-a-half years, but now Pride has upset a lot of the LGBT community right across the board. From low-paid people who feel excluded by high ticket prices, to gay business owners and charity workers. In the current climate smaller charities in particular depend on this funding.

“We expect many of those people will join in the protest. Personally I think the board of trustees should resign.”

This summer, village workers were told they would be prevented from going into the main arena during Pride. Performer Penny Crayon is one who was turned away by security when the area was half empty and caught the moment on video. This caused discontent amongst Village bar staff who work long hours and try to grab a brief look at the acts during their breaks.

In another development, after a decade of the gay village being fenced off, City Council officials have confirmed in writing that the public has always had a legal right to walk through the streets during Manchester Pride whether they buy a ticket or not.

Businesswoman Julia Grant was a key figure behind the successful and free-to-enter GayFest in both 2000 and 2001. Amounts of £105,716.77 and £87,666.63 were raised and published accounts show that 75% of this was distributed to the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, BodyPositive NorthWest and George House Trust. The remainder going to smaller charities.

Julia says: “Manchester Pride and the lack of investment in the village has ripped the heart out of the LGBT community.”

No one answered the telephone at the offices of Manchester Pride when Gscene asked for a quote.

Scottish Parliament equal marriage bill vote expected within days

Posted on 11/11/2013 by Besi

The Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee has published its report into the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, and has recommended that MSPs vote for the Bill at stage one.

The Equality Network, the Scottish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality charity, has been urging MSPs to back the Bill, which will remove the final major piece of sexual orientation discrimination from the law and allow same-sex couples in Scotland to marry.

The stage one vote on the principle of the Bill is expected within days. If the Scottish Parliament votes for the Bill at stage one the Committee will consider any amendments before MSPs vote on whether to pass the final version of the Bill at stage three.

Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said:

“With just days to go before the crucial stage one vote on the equal marriage bill we urge MSPs to stand up for a fairer and more equal Scotland by giving this milestone legislation their full support. The large majority of people in Scotland believe it’s time LGBT people had full equality, including the right to marry the person they love. This bill will remove discrimination from the law and send out an important message about the kind of country we are.”

Last week the Equality Network launched their final push for equal marriage at a packed reception in the Scottish Parliament.

Over 500 supporters from across the country were addressed by speakers including Alex Neil, the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for the Bill, and MSPs from across the political parties including Marco Biagi (SNP), Margaret McCulloch (Scottish Labour), Jackson Carlaw (Scottish Conservatives), Willie Rennie (Scottish Liberal Democrats) and Patrick Harvie (Scottish Green Party).

Alex Neil used his speech to urge MSPs to vote for the Bill, saying:

“At the heart of this issue there is one simple fact, a marriage is about love, not gender. I believe it’s essential that everyone in Scotland knows they have the same rights and privileges, and the same ability to get married. I think it’s right that our national parliament takes this opportunity to send a clear signal that in modern Scotland we are passionate promoters and defenders of equality. And I am greatly encouraged that MSPs from across the chamber have indicated that they will vote for the Bill.”

The Equality Network launched Equal Marriage, the UK’s first major campaign for same-sex marriage in 2008.

The charity is urging supporters to contact their MSPs through their campaign website: http://www.equalmarriage.org.uk/itstime