Michael and Andrew were both visibly shaken after an incident with a security guard in Belfast’s Victoria Square. Michael explains the story. Continue reading We don’t go looking for homophobia: sometimes it comes looking for us
Back in March I was pleased that the Faith Mission Shop in Queen Street, Belfast had removed Chick Tracts from sale given the homophobic views expressed in them. Yesterday I was disappointed with Faith Mission.
After my blog post in March I had gone in to see this for myself. Whilst there I asked if there were any books on living with HIV – as there were many on living with cancer. I was pointed to a small section marked ‘ethics’. At this point I saw three words next to each other on a shelf which was immediately below the shelf marked ‘Homosexuality‘. Continue reading “Christian bookshop lumps AIDS with Death and Suicide”
Originally written for the Liberal Democrats in Northern Ireland blog, Michael takes a look at fighting homophobia at home in Northern Ireland where it appears to be rising by 20.6% and in Uganda. Continue reading challenging homophobia at home and abroad – a Lib Dem view
In a recent case before Mr Justice Mostyn the Court of Protection held in The Law Courts in Newcastle, a disabled man, aged 41 years (hereinafter referred to as ‘Alan’ in line with the judgment) has been barred from having sex with another man until he has a better grasp of the health implications of his act.
According to Pink News,
In the meantime, he will be closely supervised by the local council to ensure his sexual activity is restricted to masturbation in his bedroom or bathroom – and nothing more.
I have some questions about this. Continue reading “no sex other than masturbation allowed – how do you check?”
Gyronny Herald contributor, Andrew McFarland, has just written an article on Faith and Pride. When you read the any book you have to be careful to read what it says, not what you think it says. This is particularly true when it comes to books that people quote from, like the Bible. Snipping a quote out of context can often lead to a misunderstanding about what the passage actually means. The story of Sodom is a good example of where misunderstanding can occur if you just look at the wrong verses. Read the rest of the article at Faith and … Continue reading Faith and Pride – Men of Sodom
Last night, my friend Conor and his flatmate invited Michael and me to their New Year’s Eve party, in their flat in the Titanic Quarter. There were probably about ten people there, and we spent the evening playing with the Xbox, listening to music, and generally being social. There was also some alcohol consumption, but as a non-drinker I’m going to draw a veil over that. At midnight, we watched Big Ben* on the BBC, and yes Michael and I kissed. It was a completely normal New Year’s Eve party for all of us. Re-read that last sentence: it was … Continue reading all so wonderfully normal (part 2)
My name is Andrew, and I am living with HIV. You might think that I am HIV positive – I am not. I am living with HIV because my boyfriend*, Michael, the man I love, is HIV positive. I am living with HIV because HIV has a direct impact on my life. I am also, to some extent, living with PVL-MRSA, because Michael has that too. Today Michael had an appointment at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and his doctor took the opportunity to screen me for MRSA, because there was a chance that I was an asymptomatic carrier. It … Continue reading my name is Andrew
It wasn’t a country high on my priorities of ones I would like to visit, but with the news that its Parliament is voting next week on legislation to impose fines on those who “promote homosexuality“, Lithuania has definitely gone down the list. Continue reading “LGBT not here, thank you!”
We’re into the last 24 hours of voting in this year’s Pink Paper Readers Awards. Earlier in the autumn as the awards nominations opened, it was impossible to log that you came from Northern Ireland in the awards. As one of the people that pushed Tris Reid-Smith, Editor of Gay Times and the Pink Paper to include Northern Ireland, this year, I urge all in Northern Ireland to vote for their favourite LGBT venues – and show the rest of the UK and the world that we do have a lively and healthy gay scene, with the largest community Pride … Continue reading Final push for Pink Paper Readers Awards
Readers may be interested in the statement on the Justin Campaign website regarding the FIFA decision on the World Cup in 2018 and 2022.
The Justin Campaign is deeply concerned by FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. Both of these countries have extremely poor records on the issue of LGBT rights. Continue reading “Remember Justin Fashanu? FIFA should.”
Gyronny Herald 