Gay News

A banner ad, which appeared to a guest member on the dating site www.gaydar.co.uk, featured various images of naked men engaged in sexual acts. One showed a man with an erection. Text stated BAITBUS.COM and STRAIGHT GUYS TRICKED INTO GAY SEX .

A complainant challenged whether the ad was offensive and unsuitable for a dating website.

BangBros.com.Inc, trading as Bait Bus (Bait Bus), stated that the website www.gaydar.co.uk was an adult dating site on which gay men and couples sought to find sexual partners. They pointed out that the site allowed members to post explicit photos on their profiles, while noting that the most explicit of these could only be seen by those who had paid a subscription fee. They said the profiles on the site also included space for members to list their preferred sexual positions and whether or not they had been circumcised, and there was a mobile phone dating application which allowed members to find nearby men interested in meeting up while they were travelling. They submitted a number of screenshots of the site and the mobile phone application. Bait Bus considered that the ad was more than appropriate for display on the website, given the adult content available on the rest of the site. They stated that, although they did not agree that the ad was unsuitable for the medium, they had since removed it from the Gaydar website.

QSoft Consulting Ltd, trading as Gaydar (Gaydar), pointed out that the ad would only have been shown to registered users of the site, who according to their terms and conditions would have to be aged 18 or over. They questioned whether, in that context, the ad was offensive or simply distasteful in nature. They explained that non-paying, guest members were not shown XXX rated content within user profiles, but that all members would see the same banner advertising. They said they had a set of creative specifications to which advertising on the site should adhere. Owing to the volume of advertising they ran, ads which did not meet those specifications were occasionally accepted in error, but when a user brought such a case to their attention they would remove it from the site. Their specifications precluded images of erections or penetration. Gaydar said they had now taken down the ad for Bait Bus because it did not conform to their specifications, but stressed that those specifications were designed to ensure that advertising met with their users' tastes and did not mean that the ad was indecent.

ASA Decision: Complaint Upheld

The ASA noted that the ad contained overtly sexual content. We therefore considered that it required very careful targeting to avoid causing offence to those who viewed it. We acknowledged that the ad was only shown to registered users of the website, and that the website contained content of an adult nature. However, we noted that the site offered both free guest and payable member account types to its users, and that those with guest accounts were not able to see explicit photos or videos, rated by the site as XXX , on other users' profiles unless they upgraded to a full, paying, membership. We understood that the ad had appeared to both types of user on the Gaydar website. We also noted that advertising on the site would not generally display images of the nature seen in the ad, because of Gaydar's internal policies.

Although we accepted that the site made provision for user profiles to contain information of an adult nature, we understood that the general user experience of a guest member of the site would not include exposure to images of the explicit nature shown in the ad. We also considered that the text STRAIGHT GUYS TRICKED INTO GAY SEX , because it implied non-consensual behaviour, carried threatening and violent undertones and for that reason would be likely to cause serious offence.

We viewed the images in the ad as being sufficiently explicit to be likely to cause serious offence, and we understood that they did not appear against an established context of similar content on the site for guest users. Because of that, and because we considered the text to be also likely to offend, we concluded that the ad was likely to cause serious offence to some guest users and that it had been inappropriately targeted to appear to guest members of Gaydar. We welcomed the assurances from both Bait Bus and Gaydar that the ad had been removed.

The ad breached CAP Code rules 1.3 (Social responsibility) and 4.1 (Harm and offence).

From a Femen perspective

See article from femen.org

Religious nationalists violently attacked FEMEN sextremists during the protest In Gay we trust! .

The aggression of catholics has been stopped by police and members of LGBT community.

FEMEN FRANCE activists decided to attack a homophobic Catholic demonstration in central Paris. Breaking into the crowd dressed as nuns, activists sprayed the anti-gay demonstrators with Jesus' semen from balloons.

This action aims at spreading progressive ideas of civil and sexual freedom into religious people's minds. FEMEN strongly prohibits religious people to poke their nose into matters such as family, marriage and sexual relations and demand that they do not impose their medieval ideas in modern Europe. In Gay we trust!

From a nutter perspective

See  article from  gaystarnews.com

A Catholic group is suing feminist activists who dressed as half-naked nuns in protest at an anti-gay marriage march in Paris.

Civitas, which helped organize the mass demonstration in France's capital on 18 November, is filing a lawsuit against Ukraine-based group FEMEN for sexual exhibitionism in front of children.

Painting In Gay We Trust on their naked breasts, the nuns sprayed powdered sperm while chanting pro-gay slogans.

According to The Local, Civitas president Alain Escada also accused the activists of spreading a message in a violent manner, organised violence with arms and threatening the freedom to protest of others.

Members of FEMEN were attacked by the anti-gay marriage marchers, who claim they were punched and hit by objects thrown by their pursuers.

Ofcom have imposes a financial penalty of £4,000 against Asian Fever Community Radio for incitement to torture gays.

The Finding related to two episodes of the programme Sister Ruby Ramadan Special 2011 , broadcast on 17 August 2011 at 12:00 and 18 August 2011 at 11:00, each approximately fifty minutes in duration, which were broadcast in Urdu.

Ofcom found that two of the presenter's statements in the programme broadcast on 17 August 2011 were likely to encourage or to incite the commission of crime or to lead to disorder. The statements were as follows:

What should be done if they do it [practise homosexuality]? If there are two such persons among you, that do this evil, the shameful act, what do you have to do? Torture them; punish them; beat them and give them mental torture.

Allah states, 'If they do such a deed [i.e. homosexuality], punish them, both physically and mentally.' Mental punishment means rebuke them, beat them, humiliate them, admonish and curse them, and beat them up. This command was sent in the beginning because capital punishment had not yet been sent down.

Ofcom found that these statements were likely to encourage or to incite the commission of crime or to lead to disorder. This was because Ofcom considered that the two statements could be objectively and reasonably regarded as not only condoning but encouraging violent behaviour against homosexual people.

Acts of violence and hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation are prohibited by UK law. We considered that the broadcast of these two statements made by the presenter was likely to encourage or incite the commission of crime, i.e. violence or other unlawful acts motivated by hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation. For the same reasons we concluded that these two statements were likely to encourage others to copy the sort of unacceptable behaviour towards homosexual people described by the presenter.

Ofcom found these and other sermons to breach their rules:

Rule 2.3: In applying generally accepted standards broadcasters must ensure that material which may cause offence is justified by the context. Such material may include... discriminatory treatment or language (for example on the grounds of... religion... and sexual orientation)...

Rule 2.4: Programmes must not include material (whether in individual programmes or in programmes taken together) which, taking into account the context, condones or glamorises violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour and is likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour.

Rule 3.1: Material likely to encourage or incite the commission of crime or to lead to disorder must not be included in television or radio services.

Rule 4.1: Broadcasters must exercise the proper degree of responsibility with respect to the content of programmes which are religious programmes.

Charges that Madonna broke a homophobic censorship ban in the Russian city of St Petersburg have been dropped.

Homophobic activists had tried to prosecute the US singer over accusations that she violated St Petersburg's law on the promotion of homosexuality among minors.

The nutter prosecution resulted after Madonna spoke out against the ban on stage and handed out pink bracelets. She also issued a message of support for the imprisoned LGBT-supporting feminist punk protestors of Pussy Riot.

The Trade Union of Russian Citizens demanded £ 6 million from Madonna and from the company that organised her show.

However on Thursday, RIA Novosti reported that the case had been dismissed by a St Petersburg court. Madonna did not attend the hearing, which had attracted intense media attention in Russia.

Elsewhere in Russia, regional lawmakers in Moscow rejected a homophobic censorship law similar to St Petersburg's. The failed bill attempted to outlaw: non-traditional sexual orientation propaganda to minors.

A production of Corpus Christi in Athens was canceled this month after weeks of almost daily protests outside the theatre by priests and right-wing groups.

Charges of insulting religion and malicious blasphemy have now been filed after Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus lodged a lawsuit against those involved in the play.

Dierctor Laertis Vasiliou and the other defendants could face several months in prison. A trial date has not been set yet.

The charges drew criticism from rights groups and politicians, with the co-ruling Democratic Left party describing the country's blasphemy laws as anachronistic and calling for them to be revised.

Channel 4 has admitted to editing the word 'gay' out of The Simpsons as the word was judged inappropriate for transmission before 6pm.

The term was removed from a Sunday lunchtime showing of a 1994 episode called Homer Loves Flanders .

In the episode Homer Simpson goes to an American football match with his God-fearing neighbour Ned Flanders but is initially embarrassed to be seen with him. The pair bond and Homer yells: I want everyone to know that this is Ned Flanders ... my friend!

His workmates Lenny and Carl overhear him and Lenny says: What d'he say?

Originally Carl replies: I dunno. Somethin' about being gay.

But on Sunday his line was cut and the episode switched to advertisements after Lenny speaks.

Channel 4 told The Independent claimed that it was a 'mistake' was caused by an overly cautious compliance checker.

Channel 4's gay censorship seems to be somewhat at odds with the fine words on their website:

Diversity in TV and the media, it's a big subject - and a top priority for us at Channel 4. After all, a key part of our remit is to appeal to people whatever their culture, nationality, religious persuasion, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, race or age

Malawi has suspended anti-gay laws and ordered police not to arrest people who commit homosexual acts pending a debate on whether to repeal the legislation.

President Joyce Banda's government announced that it had imposed a moratorium on the laws until parliament could decide on the highly contentious issue.

The move was welcomed by Amnesty International as a historic step forward , but local activists urged caution.

Malawi's penal code criminalises sexual conduct between men and anyone convicted faces up to 14 years' imprisonment, with or without corporal punishment. Another sectionof the penal code criminalises indecent practices between females , with anyone found guilty liable to five years in prison.

Ralph Kasambara, the justice minister, said that if the laws are found to be unconstitutional, it would be an embarrassment to the government, but if they are found to be valid, police will be able to act: It is better to let one criminal get away with it rather than throw a lot of innocent people in jail.

In 2009, two men were arrested and charged with public indecency after becoming the first gay couple to marry in the former British protectorate. The prosecution drew condemnation from around the world including from Amnesty.

The Gay group Stonewall has announced the nominees for its annual Hero and Bigot of the Year Awards. The charity's 7th Stonewall Awards take place at the V&A on 1 November, and celebrate people who have made a positive impact on the lives of Britain's 3.7 million lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

The Hero and Bigot of the Year awards are voted on by Stonewall's supporters.

Shortlist for Hero of the Year.

An individual who has encouraged, inspired or achieved the most for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the last year.

• Ben & Jerry . Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield founded Ben & Jerry's ice cream in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont. Long-time supporters of equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

• Jackie Crozier . Jackie Crozier was Manchester Pride Festival Director between 2005 and 2011.

• Tim Franks . Tim's work with the lesbian and gay community began more than 20 years ago with his involvement in a peer run youth project in Nottingham.

• Rev Giles Fraser . Giles Fraser came to national prominence in October 2011 as Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral during the Occupy London protests. He's long been an outspoken advocate of equality for gay people and tolerance within the church.

• Jessie J . It's been another incredible year for Jessie J. As well as joining BBC One's The Voice as a celebrity judge she wowed a global audience at the Olympic Closing Ceremony. She tackled tabloid gossip about her sexuality head on, proudly reaffirming that she was bisexual and dismissing rumours as boring and untrue.

Shortlist for Bigot of the Year.

An individual who has gone out of their way to harm, hurt or snub lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the last year.

• Alan Craig . In October 2011 Alan Craig caused outrage by comparing gay equality advocates to the invading forces of Nazi Germany and dubbing them the Gaystapo . In an incendiary Church of England Newspaper article he claimed gay-rights storm troopers take no prisoners as they annex our wider culture and that the modest measure to extend marriage to same-sex couples was proof that Nazi expansionist ambitions are far from sated .

• Simon Lokodo . Simon Lokodo, the Ugandan Ethics and Integrity Minister, disbanded the meetings of gay equality groups and arrested activists. According to Lokodo gay people are sick and seek to pervert children. For a so-called Ethics and Integrity Minister to peddle such inflammatory propaganda is an ironic tragedy for Uganda's gay population.

• Lord Maginnis . Lord Maginnis made headlines by referring to same-sex marriage as unnatural and deviant behaviour and questioning if marriage equality would mean that every deviant practice has to be accommodated? Will the next thing be that we legislate for some sort of bestiality?

• Cardinal Keith O'Brien . Keith O'Brien has been a prominent opponent of marriage equality and made headlines with deeply offensive comments about same-sex couples. He's stated that same-sex relationships are harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing and compared equal marriage to slavery and child abuse.

• Archbishop Philip Tartaglia . Philip Tartaglia caused outrage in July when he claimed that the late David Cairns MP had died due to the fact he was gay and that a conspiracy of silence prevented people from stating that being gay directly led to premature death.

Update: Christians Concerned about being seen as bigots

31st October 2012.See article from christianconcern.com

Those nominated for Stonewall's Bigot of the Year award include a Cardinal, an Archbishop, a member of the House of Lords and the former leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance. They have all spoken out against gays in connection with government plans to extend marriage to gay couples.

Christian Concern have found a way to fight back against Stonewall's highlighting of nasty comments from senior Christians.

According to Stonewall's website, the Awards evening is supported by high street bank Barclays, global professional services firm PwC, the Queen's bank Coutts & Co and internet search engine Google.

Now in response to emails from christian campaigners, Coutts has informed Stonewall that it will withdraw its support for the event unless the Bigot of the Year Award is dropped. Barclays has also told Stonewall that unless the Award is pulled, it will not support the event in the future.

Update: Calling a Bigot a Bigot

2nd November 2012. See  article from  bbc.co.uk

Cardinal Keith O'Brien has been awarded the Bigot of the Year award by Stonewall. His extreme stance on gay marriage was singled out at the awards ceremony in London.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson won Politician of the Year, but was booed for also criticising the bigot award. Davidson, who is gay, has been among cross-party support for a same-sex marriage bill which is being brought forward by the Scottish government, while Cardinal O'Brien has been a strong critic of the plans.

She said it was important for young people to see that politics, gender or sexuality should be no barrier to success:

But where I disagree with Stonewall in these awards is the need to call people names like 'bigot'. It is simply wrong.

The case for equality is far better made by demonstrating the sort of generosity, tolerance and love we would wish to see more of in this world.

Stonewall Scotland director Colin Macfarlane said:

It's fitting that Stonewall's 10,000 supporters voted decisively to name Cardinal O'Brien as Bigot of the Year.

We've never called anyone a bigot just because they don't agree with us, but in just the past 12 months the cardinal has gone well beyond what any normal person would call a decent level of public discourse.

A Christian B&B owner has been told to pay £ 3,600 in damages to a gay couple who were refused a double bed.

Susanne Wilkinson said she was trying to uphold her beliefs about marriage at the Swiss Bed and Breakfast in Cookham, Berkshire.

At a court hearing this week, the judge accepted the sincerity of her Christian beliefs and that she had also refused to allow unmarried heterosexual couples from sharing a double bed.

However, the judge ruled that the policy broke equality laws by discriminating against Michael Black and John Morgan. She was ordered to pay damages on the grounds of hurt feelings to the couple.

Wilkinson's legal defence was paid for by The Christian Institute. Spokesman Mike Judge said, rather admitting that such discrimination is against the law:

Yes, Mrs Wilkinson's B&B is a business, but it's also a family home. The law should be more flexible in allowing people to live according to their own values under the own roof.

A bit more balance is needed, rather than allowing one set of rights to automatically suppress another.

  Greek state television cut out a gay kiss from the British drama Downton Abbey . The scene involved a kiss between a visiting duke and Downton's footman Thomas Barrow.

Viewers complained about the edit on social networking sites and the country's main opposition party called it an obvious case of censorship . In a statement, the Syriza party described the omission as:

an extreme act of homophobia and discrimination which... we cannot characterize as unprecedented.

The episode in question started late at night at 22:05 local time.

Costas Spyropoulos, managing director of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation squirmed about the censorship:

The love affair between the two men... was not censored ...[BUT]...

The kiss was not shown because of the time the programme was broadcast and the corresponding parental guidance warnings.

Madonna has been sent a summons to appear in a Russian court for breaking St Petersburg's homophobic censorship law, during her concert in the city.

Russia Today reported that nine anti-gay plaintiffs intend to make Madonna pay for their supposed  moral suffering following her performance in August.

The pro-Kremlin group Trade Union of Russian Citizens wants the star in court to answer claims of blasphemy and for damaging the anti-gay cultural foundations of St Petersburg.

They are seeking 333 million rubles ($10 million) from Madonna and from the company that organised her show.

The pop star gave out pink wrists bands during the performance to show solidarity with Russia's LGBT community. The complaint also includes a video taken of the concert that allegedly depicts Madonna allegedly stomping on an Orthodox cross.

A top official at Europe's main human rights watchdog has voiced concern after Belgrade banned a gay pride event for the second year running.

Keith Whitmore, of the Council of Europe, called on the authorities in Belgrade to reconsider their decision. The city should respect the right of gay people to free assembly, he said.

The European Commission warned that the decision went against fundamental human rights upheld by the EU. Serbia won EU candidate status earlier this year.

But Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic described the ban on Saturday's event as a victory for Serbia . He added: Nobody will be telling anyone what should happen in Belgrade, be it the EU or any of the countries of the world, or any extremist or radical organisation.

He also condemned a Swedish art exhibition being held in Belgrade to coincide with Pride Week. Ecce Homo features photographs which appear to depict Jesus Christ, naked or wearing high heels, among gay people.

The 2011 Belgrade Pride parade was banned at the last moment supposedly out of fear of a repetition of violence in 2010, when dozens were injured and arrested as protesters opposed to the parade clashed with police.