ADAM LAMBERT - Out In The City

NEWS FLASHES
NEWS
SHADOW HOME SECRETARY MAKES GAY GAFFE
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling has raised questions
over the Conservative Party’s attitudes towards gay rights.
During a speech at the Centre for Policy Studies in London
on Wednesday 21 March, Mr Grayling – who would have to
enforce equality legislation should the Conservatives win the
election – was asked a question by the audience regarding civil
liberties. His answer touched upon the recent case where a gay
couple was refused entry to a B&B, as the Christian owner of
the establishment said that it was against her beliefs to let the
couple sleep together under her roof – contravening changes in
the law introduced by the new Equality Regulations Act 2007.
Although Mr Grayling voted in favour of the Act, he said, “I think
we need to allow people to have their own consciences… I
took the view that if it’s a question of somebody who’s doing a
B&B in their own home, that individual should have the right to
decide who does and who doesn’t come into their own home.”
The Equality Act 2007 states that anyone offering goods or
services to the public must not discriminate against anyone
because of their sexual orientation – and this includes
people who run B&Bs. Mr Grayling was unaware that his
comments were being tape recorded, but they were brought
to wider attention when published in The Observer magazine.
Questioned for clarification afterwards, he said, “Any suggestion
that I am against gay rights is wholly wrong – it is a matter of
record that I voted for civil partnerships. I also voted in favour of
the legislation that prohibited bed and breakfast owners from
discriminating against gay people… However, this is a difficult
area and on Wednesday I made comments which reflected my
view that we must be sensitive to the genuinely held principles
of faith groups in this country. But the law is now clear on this
issue; I am happy with it and would not wish to see it changed.”
GAY ARTISTS WANTED
Three upcoming gay arts events are
seeking submissions from artists
working in all types of media. The
annual GFest – Gaywise Festival will
be returning to London in November
2010, and organisers are looking for
submissions in three major categories;
short films, performances and visual
art. The deadline for GFest 2010 submissions is 2 July 2010.
A panel of eminent selectors will choose the entries in July.
Details: www.gaywisefestival.org.uk
Before then, the annual ACT ART event is due to take place
on Friday 9 July at the Islington Metal Works (formerly
Elektrowerkz, behind Angel tube). Curated and produced by
Oliver Frost and Marc Massive and now in its 8th year, ACT ART
is an underground event that merges art, fashion, pop and club
culture. Artists are invited to submit proposals for work based
on or connected to ‘Censorship’ for the 8th ACT ART event, as
well as work that’s unrelated. Visit www.actart.co.uk for info
and to make a proposal. Finally, north London’s Lauderdale
House is now inviting new submissions from UK-wide lesbian
and gay professional artists for the eighth annual ‘Pride in the
House’ exhibition, which is due to run from 6 July until 18 July
2010. Deadline for submissions is 10 June 2010. For information
pack email Katherine Ives on kives@lauderdale.org.uk,
including ‘Pride Exhibition’ in the subject line or download from
www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk
GUERNSEY EQUALISES AGE OF CONSENT
Guernsey have voted to lower the age of consent for gay men to
16 – the same as it is for heterosexuals and lesbians. The vote
was unanimous. Homosexuality was illegal on the island until
18 years ago.
STONEWALL’S YOUTH CAMP
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Pictured here are young people who took
part in a weekend training course organised
by gay rights charity Stonewall. The volunteers,
all of whom were aged between 16 and 21, received
coaching and advice on how to run campaigns in
their local communities to tackle homophobia and
homophobic bullying in schools. The V-funded training
weekend took place in Buckinghamshire in late March,
BIRMINGHAM AND BRISTOL
PRIDE DETAILS ANNOUNCED
and attracted young people from all over the country.
Laurie Kay, Stonewall’s Youth Co-ordinator, said: “The
young people love these weekends. It gives them the
chance to get involved with Stonewall’s campaign to
tackle homophobic bullying in schools. They get to meet
people their age who are keen to campaign for an end
to homophobia. There were a few tears when people
said goodbye at the end of the weekend, though!”