Whilst most of us think of the London Borough of Islington has being a place we don’t quite fit in because it’s constructed as being somewhere only the rich hang out there, a recent report has shown that there’s another big reason why we’re likely not to, and that for being gay. Seen as a shocking to many who have long perceived the Borough to be one of the most inclusive, the figures shown that from 2010 to 2011 the figures saw a 50% increase in homophobic crimes whilst boroughs around them either remained static or fell.

Undoubtedly worrying, it is, as Joe Dyke of Islington Now states, important to take into consideration the fact that this doesn’t necessarily mean homophobic crime numbers are in reality going up, but more that people are more confident to report them. However having said that this has quickly become the same old reason rolled out by the police authorities every time a rise occurs. If it is true that it’s all about more confidence in the police in dealing with the issues then can we all expect to see figures fall below that of 2010 as their work takes effect? We’ll have to wait and see…

Photo credit: j thorn explains it all

The BBC has apologised for comments made by Hugh Grant during a televised half time chat during England’s Six Nation win over Scotland last weekend after complaints that his comments were homophobic.

Related to the Grant’s comment on playing rugby at school and finding “it hurt less if you tackled hard than if you tackled like a queen” the BBC said they apologised for any offence that it’s choice of words may have caused. Hugh Grant himself so far has not many any comment.

Via The Sun.

Grindr, the smartphone app for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android that has revolutionised the world of gay dating has announced that it is going straight with a new app called Project Amicus.

Utilising the same location based technology as Grindr does, the new app will allow users to locate other users nearby to meet up with, something that is likely to not only be hugely popular with those using the service, but also cause founder Joel Simkhai to come under further criticism from those who feel the application promotes sexual promiscuity.

All we’re worried about is making sure we’re using the right app. Now that could be awkward if you accidentally click into the wrong one…

Via Channel 4 News.

Swedish footballer, Anton Hysen has got the sports world talking about gay issues all over again by coming out and revealing that is well coming out…

The son of former Liverpool defender Glenn Hysen, Anton revealed he was gay in Swedish football magazine “Offside”, saying he knew it might now affect his career negatively, but said that would be the problem of anyone who rejected him merely on his sexuality and not his.

Saying that it was “f****d up” that no other Swedish players had come out, he questioned why it would make any difference if someone was or wasn’t saying:

‘I am a footballer. And gay. If I perform as a footballer, then I do not think it matters if I like girls or boys.’

Via The Pink News

Burger King has been forced to pay out $3.15 million in compensation after it was found that their staff had been abused and beaten up by members of their staff. Happening in the Union City restaurant in New Jersey in 2007, the couple, Peter Casbar, 43, and Noel Robichaux, 46, were first met with rudeness by the staff, and then and after leaving were pursued by staff who kick, beat up and spat on the men.

Ywo Burger King employees, Angel Caraballo and Christopher Soto, have already pleaded guilty to the charges of  aggravated assault with the couple going on to sue Food Service Properties Corp and Union City Restaurant Corp, who own seven Burger Kings in Union City via the New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination.

Via Pink News.

If there’s one thing you tend to hear about English cricket a lot is that player after player in the team is out. Now usually this just acts to confirm that we’re not very good at the game, but this weekend when Steven Davies announced that he was out it wasn’t a reflection of his playing skills, it was instead concerning his sexuality.

Becoming the first professsional cricketer to come out publicly, Davies has said that he felt it was the right time for him to speak out, and hoped that by doing so it would act to give other young people the confidence to do the same.

Speaking about his decision to the Daily Telegraph, he said that finally being open and honest was a huge relief and that:

“It’s something I’ve lived with for a long time. Although I feel it is the right time, I am nervous about coming out. Who wouldn’t be? It’s the biggest decision I’ve had to face, and by far the toughest – bigger even than facing Brett Lee [the fearsome Australian fast bowler] in the middle”.

Discussing how hiding his sexuality had affected his role in the sport, Davies said that the need to hide had meant that touring had been something that he feared more than enjoyed as he felt forced to hide details of his private life, something that would obviously come up in conversation when away with the boys for so long.

Deciding he had to come out, at least to his team-mates, before the Ashes tour, Davies spoke of the strong support he had from both the England coach, Andy Flower, and the captain, Andrew Strauss, who not only gave their support, but also spoke to every member of the team to tell them. Having what Davies describes as a dramatic effect on him, he says far from damaging his relationship with any of the other players it has seen his friendship with them grow… though not during the current World Cup as Davies was dropped from the team. A result of his coming out? Some cricket insiders say yes, but Davies says he doesn’t think so. We suppose only time will tell if that’s actually true or not…

Via The Daily Telegraph.

If you talk to most homophobes they’ll try and blame the fact that they’re against ghastly homosexuals like you and I because of the fact it is what the Bible says. This will then tends to be followed up by some rather nice quoting of passages and then them announcing that they therefore can’t be made to change their mind on the matter because this is the book they use to teach them about the best way to lead their lives.

And perhaps in some cases that is true. However in the case of this darling chap (who is actually far from a darling – you can see him in a news report below defending a horrific attack on a gay man) who decided it would be an awesome idea to get “You shall not lie with a male as one does with a woman. It is an abomination. Leviticus 18:22″ tattooed on his arm that excuse isn’t really going to work.

Why? Well because if he hadn’t actually stopped reading and carried on he’d have read “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:28″ which would tend to imply that tattoos are a big no-no.

Ah well at least now we’ll get to meet him in Hell and be able to try and convince him to change his mind about gays.

A 36 year old man was stabbed early on Monday morning by Camden Lock Bridge after he was approached by four black men, between the ages 20 and 25, who first inquired if he was gay and then, after walking off, returned stabbing the victim in the chest and leg.

Taken to hospital, where he is said to be in a stable condition, police are investigating attack which they are treating as homophobic and are urging anyone who may have seen something to contact Camden police on 020 8733 6474 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Via Pink News / Photo credit: Gerardofegan

A new report,obtained by Dee Doocey, a Liberal Democrat member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, has shown that homophobic incidents have risen by an incredibly depressing 28% over the last four years with 1,545 homophobic incidents reported to police officers in the last year alone.

Speaking about the findings, which also showed a rise in racist cases Dee Doocey commented:

“These figures are clear evidence of a very disturbing rise in hate crime. I am especially concerned about the huge rise in homophobic incidents.

“Some of the rise may be down to an increase in reporting of incidents, but I fear this may not be the full explanation. It seems only now that we are starting to discover the real numbers of such serious offences.”

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of charity Stonewall also spoke of his worries about the figures stating:

“We’re deeply concerned that hate crime continues to overshadow the lives of so many gay Londoners. We hope the Mayor will commit to becoming personally involved in tackling this blight. The Met has taken huge steps forward but there’s still too little evidence of real commitment from the very top.”

Via The London Evening Standard / Photo credit : LWY

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)  have announced that Ricky Martin will be honoured with the Vito Russo Award, a prize give to openly gay entertainers to work to promote equal rights, for the impact that he has had on the Latino LGBT community since coming out.

Speaking about the reason that GLAAD had awarded Martin with the prize, a spokesperson attributed it particularly to the impact that he has had on younger generations saying:

“Ricky coming out was a game changer for many gay and transgender Latino children,”

“For too long, [they] did not have many out gay people to look up to.”

Alongside Martin,  actress Kristin Chenoweth is also being honoured for her criticism of a Newsweek article that suggested gay actors could n’t play straight roles, something GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios says acts to spread a very important message of equality.

Via BBC. / photo credit: lander2006