Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Turing's Law finally receives Royal Assent
The Policing and Crime Bill, known as ‘Turing’s Law’, gives pardons to anyone who has died with a crime on their record but only if it would not be considered a crime today.
‘This is a truly momentous day,’ Sam Gyimah, the Justice Minister said.
‘We can never undo the hurt caused, but we have apologized and taken action to right these wrongs.
‘I am immensely proud that “Turing’s Law” has become a reality under this government.’
The automatic pardons do not apply to anyone still living, although those who have successfully applied through the Home Office to have their historic offenses removed will see statutory pardons.
Not eligible are men who were convicted for an offense that involved a person younger than 16, was non-consensual or constitutes the offense of sexual activity in a public lavatory.
A separate Private Members’ Bill, introduced by John Nicolson MP, did not receive support from the Government.
Nicolson’s bill would’ve granted an automatic blanket pardon to any men convicted under the historic laws, as long as their conviction does not constitute a crime today, no matter if they’re dead or still living.
Beware the Two Faces Of Trump
But this does not mean the potential of a nationwide ‘religious freedom’ law – giving businesses the right to refuse to serve LGBT people on the basis of their faith – is off the cards either.
In a statement from the White House, the president pledged to ‘protect the community from violence and oppression’.
‘President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election,’ the statement read.
‘The President is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.’
The clarification came after Trump press secretary Sean Spicer was asked whether Trump would rescind LGBT rights.
‘I just don’t know the answer,’ he said.
Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, said Mr Trump had set a low bar by merely agreeing to protect protections that already exist.
‘LGBTQ refugees, immigrants, Muslims and women are scared today, and with good reason,’ he said.
‘Donald Trump has done nothing but undermine equality since he set foot in the White House. Donald Trump has left the key question unanswered – will he commit to opposing any executive actions that allow government employees, taxpayer-funded organisations or even companies to discriminate?”
Griffin added that Trump has filled his cabinet with people who ‘have spent their careers working to demonize LGBTQ people and limit their rights’.
‘You can’t claim to be an ally when you send LGBTQ refugees back to countries where their lives are at risk,’ he added.
‘You can’t claim support them and then rip away life-saving services made possible through the Affordable Care Act for transgender people and those living with HIV or AIDS. You can’t be a friend to this community and appoint people to run the government who compare being gay to bestiality.’
American Civil Liberties Union LGBT Project Director James Esseks said: ‘Actions speak louder than words.
‘President Trump has surrounded himself with a vice president and cabinet members who have repeatedly sought to sanction discrimination against LGBT people in the name of religion, and nothing in the White House’s statement makes clear that these efforts are behind us.
‘LGBT immigrants, refugees, Muslims, and women have already come under attack by this administration. If Donald Trump is serious about being an ally to the LGBT community, it starts with abandoning an agenda driven by fear and prejudice.’
Nearly every single one of Trump’s cabinet members has voted against the rights of LGBT people.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Guilty Pleasures... Robron Edition
Being someone who doesn't really watch a lot of TV, mostly because there are few shows, that as a gay man, I find of any interest or relate with.
That changed a couple of years ago, when a British friend introduced me to a UK half hour soap opera called Emmerdale.
It took me a while to figure out who was who, but what was obvious for me, was that this show offered a very fleshed out gay character, that defied the usual stereotypes.
What was even more interesting, is that with all the different story lines that go on throughout the soap, that the gay story lines weren't just background noise, but upfront and center, with ofttimes brilliant performances by a young actor by the name of Danny Miller, who has received countless accolades for his passionate, emotional performances.
What really surprises me however, despite the shows popularity in the UK, it's relatively unknown here in the US.
Every friend I have shared this show with now watch it regularly, both gay and str8.
Which brings me to the reason for this post.
I often just post gay news and erotic things and though those things still interest me, there is more I could offer and this is me trying to do that.
In 2017 I will be attempting to offer you more than just news, more than just porn but branch out into all forms of gay interest.
Starting today, I will be posting abbreviated, edited excerpts from Emmerdale, focusing on the extremely popular Robron story line (from the beginning and up to it's current timeline)
starring Danny Miller (who plays Aaron Livsey) and Ryan Hawley (who plays Robert Sugden).
Please feel free to comment or give your input on what kind of things you might think would be of interest.
Ulf
Trump Poised To Launch First Wave Of Anti-Gay Assault
‘I’m not getting ahead of the executive orders that we may or may not issue,’ Spicer said during the daily press briefing.
‘There’s a lot of executive orders, a lot of things the president has talked about and will continue to fulfill but we have nothing on that front now.’
Trump could go further and allow discrimination against LGBT people based on so-called ‘religious freedom.’
The Human Rights Campaign calls the the reports ‘deeply troubling.’
‘We already know that he is willing to target and marginalize at-risk communities for his perceived political gain,’ HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof said in a statement.
When Pence was governor of Indiana, his state suffered immense economic backlash after he signed a ‘religious freedom’ bill into law.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
CNN's Jake Tapper's Perfect Response To Steve Bannon's Call For Reporters To "Shut Up"
That might have worked for him at Breitbart's alt-right propaganda site, but not with the "real" free press.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
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