Whats Happening Hot Stuff?? 12/02/2012

Welcome to this week's What's Happening, Hot Stuff!!!! Or if you are still covered in snow maybe that should be 'not-so-hot-hot-stuff'! As you're reading this you may already be aware, but Saturday the 11th of February saw the death of Whitney Houston - whatever she became in the end, nothing will take away from the amazing music she once sang, songs that form a soundtrack to our younger years, and a few that will no doubt be included in our wedding mix. RIP Whitney.

And so to the round-up of news from around the world. Once again, it has been a mixed week- starting with the high of Proposition 8 being repealed in California. This means that the year 2012 is shaping up as a big one for same-sex marriage. Last week, the Washington state Legislature passed a bill allowing gay marriage, and legislatures in Maryland and New Jersey may follow suit shortly (though New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has promised a veto). North Carolina and Minnesota are conducting referendums this year on constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage, and Maine is likely to conduct a referendum on legalising it.

Glad they saw sense!

In a big win for gay rights and common decency, a federal appeals court pronounced California’s Proposition 8 unconstitutional, arguing that there’s no “legitimate reason for the passage of a law that treats different classes of people differently.” “Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.” Congrats to Adam Bouska and his NOH8 Campaign for the success!!

Adam takes ALL the NOH8 photos!

Gay rights advocates are now hoping that this decision increases pressure on President Barack Obama to unequivocally declare his support for gay marriage. He has said his position on it is “evolving.”

Obama has done a great deal for the cause of gay rights, and he has left the clear impression that he fully supports gay marriage, even if he has not yet been willing to say so out loud. But even if today’s decision doesn’t put more pressure on him to go further, Obama can use it to reaffirm, with real conviction, his oft-stated position that the arc of history is long but bends toward justice. Let’s just hope he moves towards publically stating his support sooner rather than later. We understand politics is all about ‘saying the right thing at the right time’ but at the end of the day these decisions affect lives, and our lives included!

Back in the UK we've had an interesting week - headlines were made by a group hosting gay Olympic events in Clapham (Friends of Clapham Common), just over the river from us - they came out to say that 'gay Pride House events due to be held on the common were “highly likely” to become a “magnet for undesirable elements of the gay community”'. We were both like - erm WTF! 'undesirable' - what an odd choice of word, and what a weird thing to say. In a second statement they tried to make amends by saying 'all communities have “undesirable elements”'- nice work, that's a way to upset EVERYONE! Doesn't make us want to go out and support them! No doubt they will be stopping to think before opening their mouths next time.

The witch-hunt that is going on to identify the bi-sexual footballer player that was 'uncovered' in the worst UK paper this weekend shows why it is not the time for football players to come out. The football league should be creating a supportive environment but the media in this country pursues any hint of homosexuality and makes the individual's life hell - why would you want to come out in that situation?! We won't go any further with this story but check out PinkNews if you are interested.

A footballer who has dealt with 'gay rumours' in a positive way is Freddie Ljungberg (ex-Arsenal) who has come out to say  “There’s been a gay rumour for a long time. I don’t mind at all. I am proud of that. I love fashion, and I think so many gay people have amazing style. So that is a compliment to me.” He added: “I really don’t know why people are so interested. I just made a decision that I won’t talk about it.” “I am not gay. If I was I would just say I was and it wouldn’t bother me.” However these comments were all made after he stopped playing football in the UK.

Progress needs to be made in football - that is clear, at a time when racisim is back making the headlines maybe the Football Association should look at just what happens to the perpetrators of such acts. Football fan or not, the actions of Luiz Suarez should disgust you- the player was banned for 8 games after racially abusing Patrice Evra, and as the two came face to face on Saturday for the first time since, Evra extended his hand for the customary handshake only for Suarez to deliberatly ignore it- disgusting! And that image will be shown the world over. If the FA don't discipline that then what hope is there for hompohobia being pushed out?!?!

Woah Football rant over - at least outside of the sporting world, people with homophobic views are being brought to justice - a Christian Hotelier couple who refused to allow non-married couples to share rooms, banned a civil-partnered couple after discovering they were two men. Interesting as religious debate is and one we have often with friends, at the end of the day people are allowed their beliefs - but shouldn't be allowed to discriminate based on them.

A street preacher has appeared in court in Somerset on charges of verbally abusing a gay couple. Michael Overd allegedly told Craig Manning and Craig Nichol that they were “evil” and would “burn in hell”. Mr Overd reportedly claims he ‘was exercising freedom of expression, reading from the Bible as they passed’ .

According to the Press Association, Mr Nichol, Mr Overd said: ‘I have already told these two sinners over here that they are going to burn in Hell’. ‘It’s God’s words, it is in the Bible reading 1 Corinthians, which says: “Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” We bet you wouldn't find him at the jail or pub shouting at thieves or drunkards! Of course freedom of expression is allowed, but publicly harassing people is just wrong. 

London is also gearing up for World Pride this summer and bosses particularly want to highlight the 41 other countries in the Commonwealth, headed by Queen Elizabeth II, whose ‘sodomy’ laws were mostly introduced by British colonial officials in the first place. Dr Patrick Williams, chair of Pride London, told Gay Star News: ‘This is one of the reasons we got the right to host World Pride because it’s the time of the Queen’s jubilee and the Olympics and the eyes of the world are on London. It is important that we can say we stand in solidarity with people in those countries who can’t do what we can do here and will support their campaign and fight on their behalf.’

80% of Commonwealth countries still criminalise homosexuality. The penalties range up to life imprisonment in six member states and the death penalty in northern regions of Nigeria and parts of Pakistan. While the Queen cannot make political statements she can speak out against human rights abuses and for equality and discrimination. Maybe It is time she did so.

World Pride campaign for decriminalization of gay sex worldwide began with Trafalgar Square kiss today!
Two women protesters shared a very political pre-Valentine’s Day kiss today (12 February) to call for decriminalisation of homosexuality worldwide. The snog in Trafalgar Square, in the heart of the British capital, was organized by the people who will run World Pride in London this summer. World Pride has asked Londoners and visitors to spend this weekend kissing to help the fight for lesbian, gay and bisexual rights. They wanted them to snog in front of the British embassies and high commissions of countries where gay sex is illegal.

The kiss in Trafalgar Square was near Uganda House, a country where the parliament re-started discussions this week to introduce one of the most draconian pieces of anti-gay legislation in the world. Activists are urging Uganda's politicians to reject the 'kill the gays' bill which returned to parliament yesterday, warning it could have 'grave' consequences for all citizens in the African country. The anti-homosexuality bill of 2009 includes the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’ and harsh prison terms for gay and lesbian sex.


We already get our kiss on in various locations in London, next time we will make sure we have our camera and are near an embassy :)

Have a great week, until time

Love Sarah & Laura

xoxo