Chris Grayling Shock: He is a Bigot (apparently...)

The Stonewall Awards have been announced with much, err well some fanfare. These events are important for fundraising and keeping organisations like Stonewall in the media. It's usually the category 'Bigot of the Year' that understandably gets the most media focus and this year's winner - Chris Grayling, is surely a winner few (anyone?) can question receiving the award. His outspoken remarks earlier in the year about B&B's. The full awards consisted of:

# Hero of the Year (supported by g3) - Gareth Thomas. Cing his first away game for Rugby League, resulting in an RFL fine for Castleford FC.

# Broadcast of the Year – Coronation Street.

# Entertainer of the Year – John Partridge.

# Journalist of the Year (supported by Herbert Smith) – Patrick Strudwick. I

# Politician of the Year (supported by www.hervia.com) – Rt Hon John Bercow MP.

# Publication of the Year (supported by Prudential) – The Times. ‘

# Stonewall Sports Award – Martina Navratilova.

# Writer of the Year – Stella Duffy and Rupert Smith.

# Stonewall Community Group of the Year (supported by Prudential) – MindOut, based in Brighton.

Public Sex in Reading

The local press in Reading are frothing at the mouth this week. According to 'Get Reading' a lay-by has become the centre for controversial public sex activity. The website reports that: 'One businessman, who pulled into the parking area to make a phone call on Tuesday, said he saw several men wander off into the woods in quick succession.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said.
“As I was making my call, I noticed a lot of strange men park up and go in and out of the woods.
“They were glancing around to see if anyone was going to join them.
“The next thing you know, another one showed up and followed them in there. Then another pair arrived and did the same. A short time later they would reappear one by one.
“I was only there for 15 minutes, but I lost count of the number of blokes who disappeared off into the woods. Most were in their 40s and 50s. It’s obviously a hotspot for cottaging – no doubt about it.
“Even a blind man’s dog could tell you what they were up to.”'

I fine the comment from the Police particularly of interest. The website reports that 'neighbourhood specialist officer PC Matthew Allen said: “In the past I have received reports of suspicious behaviour in this area, but as far as I’m aware no criminal offences have been reported.
“In the last public meeting for Sulham and Tidmarsh residents the issue was not raised, so I don’t believe it is a major problem.
“The area is patrolled regularly and if anyone is found to be committing an offence they may face arrest.”'

OK, so we have a re-assertion (as is commonly done) that the police will be RESPONDING to complaints rather than ANTICIPATING them. We also have the Police stating the area IS PATROLLED. Why is this the case? When are they patrolling. A serious journalist would have asked those questions rather than allow themselves to be consumed by this rabid-like moral panic. Finally the website states: 'Cottagers face a charge of gross public indecency if caught by police, but many users of the website claim the risk of getting caught is part of the thrill.'

So we have another example of journalists searching cruising and cottaging websites and then irresponsibly publishing details which can lead to hate crime and homophobic attacks. We also have journalists wrongly stating the law. Sorry to spoil the parity guys but the Sexual Offences Act 2003 repealed the gross indecency laws. Cruisers can not be charged with that offence because it does not exist. It's also worth re-stating that the 2003 Act largely legalises public sex in many situations. The scene described in this report would in my view be legal and no offences would be committed. That being the case, what on earth are the police doing spending their time and resource patrolling this area? Of course, given the increased chance of hate crime after this report they may now need to patrol the area in order to protect the men engaging in these acts.

Read the story at: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2023179_copse_still_a_sex_haunt

Stonewall Awards

Stonewall has announced its annual awards will take place in November. Categories include: 'Hero of the Year', 'Bigot of the Year' and the 'Stonewall & Barclays Community Group of the Year' - being chosen by a vote among more than 6,000 Stonewall supporters from across Britain. The chosen Community Group of the Year will receive a cheque for £5,000 to support its work.

Seven other award-winners such as Journalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year will be selected by a panel including BBC sports presenter Clare Balding and broadcaster Paul Gambaccini.

The 'Hero of the Year' nominees are:

• John Amaechi - former professional NBA basketball star, spoke powerfully earlier this year about life as a closeted gay athlete sparking debate on both sides of the Atlantic on homophobia in sport.
  
• Sgt Julie Barnes-Frank - one of the first openly lesbian or gay police officers, founded Greater Manchester Police Lesbian and Gay Staff Affiliation in 1998 which now offers 24-hour advice and support to LGB police staff.
  
• Beth Ditto - lead singer of rock band The Gossip and outspoken advocate of gay equality, combines non-conformity with mainstream appeal, penning an advice column for The Guardian and nominated NME Sexiest Woman 2007.
  
• Antony Grey - veteran equality campaigner. As Secretary of the Homosexual Law Reform Society played a key role in securing the 1967 Sexual Offences Act to partly decriminalise homosexual acts.
  
• Lisa Power - veteran of human rights campaigns for over 25 years, first as a writer and activist for lesbian and gay rights and since the 1980s, in HIV and sexual health. The first person to speak at the UN on gay equality.

Personally, I'd go for Antony Grey but I doubt he's "fashionable" enough to get the nomination though probably the name that academics and long term campaigners are familiar with. The shortlist for 'Bigot of the Year' is:

• Archbishop of Birmingham - spoke out against our new goods and services protections for gay people, threatening to close welfare services and adoption agencies unless the Government agreed to sweeping exemptions.
  
• Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear presenter and journalist, refused to apologise after being reprimanded by BBC bosses for derogatory gay jibes on primetime TV.
  
• Bishop of Hereford - withdrew a job offer to a youth worker because he was gay, after subjecting him to a series of humiliating personal questions.
  
• Patricia McKeever - secretive editor of the Catholic Truth website and newsletter. Co-ordinates a relentless campaign to 'name and shame' gay Catholic priests, and has been widely condemned for conducting a 'witch-hunt'.
  
• Ian Paisley Jnr - minister in the new Northern Ireland Executive. Said he was 'repulsed' by lesbian and gay people - has since refused to apologise.

Now this one is a tricky one but for me it's between the Archbishop of Birmingham and the Archbishop of Hereford. I'm just waiting for the acceptance speech..."Unfortunately the Archbishop can't be with us tonight as he is busy campaigning against homosexuality but here's a little video he recorded for us"...