Some of the biggest stories of 2013.
by Newsdesk | 31st December 2013
There have been some incredible moves towards equality this year and some stark reminders that as the LGBT community we still need to pull together to overcome the discriminations that face LGBTs around the world.
Here’s our top stories for 2013.
January 2013
In January the UK’s gay media got a bit of a shake up after Gaydar closed Gaydar Radio; transferring licenses and listenership to Gaydio. Qsoft the firm that owns Gaydar also closed both of its London venues: Low Profile and Profile in a bid to focus on its core offering, Gaydar
In mid-January East London citizens were terrorised by a group calling themselves the Muslim Patrol. Up to 5 men were later arrested after a YouTube video was released, showing a gang of men harassing a man they thought to be gay.
TheGayUK revealed that Essex was the cruisiest place in England after analysis of the hits from its Cruising listings showed that the Essex Cruising Page was the most visited.
The anti-gay marriage protest group La Manif Tour Tous rallied in Paris, France and alledgedly managed to attract hundreds of thousands of people.
Feb 2013
The same-sex marriage debate began taking shape in February, after UK MPs voted in favour of the same-sex marriage bill – TheGayUK founders sent their local MP David Burrowes, (who was and still is vehemently apposed to same-sex marriage) an open letter – for which we’re still awaiting a reply.
Perez Hilton hit the headlines and became a father and UK therapy group Pink Therapy asked whether the gay community was ready to dump the term ‘LGBT’ in favour for "Gender and Sexual Diversity."
Clive Davis, one of the biggest names in the music industry (he discovered Whitney Houston and mentored Kelly Clarkson) came out as bisexual in his memoir and revealed that he has been in monogamous relationships with men for the past two decades.
A Subway sandwich bar in France hit the headlines after the franchise owner refused to allow same-sex couples to benefit from a sandwich offer.
March 2013
The Queen addressed discrimination across the commonwealth – many people praised her Majesty, but many felt that she didn’t go far enough – her statement read: “We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.”
The ‘other grounds’ clause within the charter is, we suspect, intended to refer to sexuality, however, some suspect that gay and lesbian were omitted because some Commonwealth countries still have anti-gay laws.
March was the month that the LGBT community stood in solidarity against the Daily Mail and one of its columnists Richard Littlejohn after trans teacher Lucy Meadows committed suicide. Many people from the LGBT community had felt that the teacher had been monstered. Over quarter of a million people signed a petition calling for the sacking of Mr. Littlejohn. He is still working for the Daily Mail.
Eddie Izzard announced his intention to run for London Mayor and the Human Rights Campaign Logo went red and pink and covered every inch of the web – as people clamoured to change their logos and avatars in support of marriage equality.
London was the scene of protests as organisers of La Manif Pour Tous, a French – anti-gay marriage demonstration group decided that Trafalgar Square was the perfect place to rally. There was a poor turn out and the chants from the pro-gay quarter out-voiced the speakers.
April 2013
The installation of a 17 year-old Paris Brown in Kent, as the UK’s first Youth Police Commissioner caused outrage after a number of her tweets were revealed as racist and homophobic. Stonewall CEO Ben Summerskill OBE called for her resignation.
The memorial plaque for the Admiral Duncan bombing victims was stolen in central London.
TheGayUK revealed its Gay Rich List – topped by film and music mogul David Geffen.
Margaret Thatcher died – causing Section 28 to trend on Twitter, bringing to light some of the legal inequalities that gay people faced right up until 2001.
Reports from the Met Police suggest that homophobic crimes had decreased in London. New Zealand became the 13th nation to legalise Gay Marriage. France became the 14th.
May 2013
A landslide victory for lesbians and gays as MPs voted to allow same-sex marriage in the UK. Eurovision caused consternation as the first same-sex kisses were broadcast across Europe. Viva Forever, the Spice Girls’ musical closed in London, whilst Matt Damon and Michael Douglas starred in the film biopic of Liberace’s life –Behind The Candelabra.
Anti-gay church Westboro Baptist Church blamed the death of Soldier Lee Rigby on gay people. The UK tops the best place for LGBT people to live in Europe and reports of a homophobic murder in Russia put the gay community on high alert.
Both the Apple and Google App stores came under fire after it was discovered that they were hosting the ‘gay cure’ app Setting Captives Free, tens of thousands of people signed a petition asking Apple and Google to get rid of the app. Apple removed the app within 24 hours – it is still live on Google.
June 2013
The Falkland Islands celebrated their very first pride event and One Direction member Harry ate Zayn’s candy thong live on stage. Boy Georges announces his comeback album and the fashion world is rocked when Dolce and Gabanna are sentenced to jail for tax evasion.
Parents of murdered gay teen Michael Causer vow to raise £1m for a gay hostel in Liverpool.
The big news came in the form of marriage equality as the Lords in the UK voted in favour of the new Same-Sex bill, meaning that lesbian and gay couples would be able to marry in 2014.
DOMA was gutted in the USA and Prop 8 was overturned.
An idiotic group called Straight Pride UK made plans to attend Pride In London.
July 2013
July was our 1st Birthday; the UK government updated its traveller information with regards to Russia as President Putin passed the infamous ‘gay propaganda’ law. The first overseas tourists are arrested under this law. Tilda Swinton waved a rainbow flag in front of the Kremlin.
Rihanna seemingly outed Cristiano Ronaldo in an off the cuff statement during an interview.
Gay bars around the world began dumping Russian produced Vodka, including all gay bars in Leeds.
August 2013
Wentworth Miller came out and Gaga released Applause. Gaga and Perez had a very public meltdown and Justin Bieber got naked… er for his gran.
Orange Is The New Black made its debut on Netflix starring openly trans actress Laverne Cox.
Tom Daley remarked that he appreciated his gay fans and GMFA held its annual Gay Sports Day.
The play As Is opened in London for a brief run at the Finsborough Theatre, 25 years after its first opening in the capital and Reading Pride celebrated 10 years.
September 2013
Sam Callahan got naked for TheGayUK and Britney released Work B*tch becoming the gay anthem for the year.
Pat Robertson confirmed his place as one of the most bigoted men on the planet after accusing gay men infected with HIV purposely infecting other gay men – with their “AIDS ring”.
Cher turned down a gig in Russia in solidarity with her gay fans – whilst Boy George suggested that at least of one member One Direction had to be gay.
The world’s biggest pasta maker, Barilla, learned not to mess with the gay community and its allies after its chairman Guido Barilla said that they would never feature a gay couple or family in its advertising.
October 2013
Kuwait announced plans to introduce a means of testing the sexuality of tourists coming into the country in a bid to deny LGBT travellers access. Stephen Fry’s Out There a documentary on the most homophobic places on earth airs on BBC 2.
The UK government announced that it does not support a boycott on the Russian Olympics.
A gay student announced his plans to lose his virginity for art class and the Samaritans reveals that 1 in 10 male callers are worried about their sexuality.
Police call for a condom ban in Scottish saunas and Nottingham Pride announces its closure.
London became the scene of a protest against the Russian government and Daniel Radcliffe is rumoured to play Freddie Mercury in a biopic of the Queen front man.
November 2013
2012 X Factor Winner James Arthur goes into meltdown mode after a homophobic retaliation rap to an online troll becomes big news. Alec Baldwin hits the headlines again for the wrong reasons and the gay community is shocked to learn that the Apple dictionary, which is supplied by Oxford University Press, defines gay as Foolish and stupid.
The trans community has its 9th Transgender Day of Remembrance and the film How To Survive A Plague is released worldwide to mark World AIDS Day.
John Lewis wows the nation (once again) with its Christmas advert and Lily Allen came back with a bang with two whopping singles. Stonewall had its annual awards ceremony and Jessie J turns on the Oxford Street Christmas Lights.
December 2013
Gay marriage was overturned in the Australian Capital Territory and gay sex is outlawed in India. The jail the gays bill in Uganda passes and the HIV bone transplant cure hope fails after the two men who had seen a reverse in their status had to go back on to their medications.
The Queen pardons WWII Code Breaking hero Alan Turing and the BBC faced immense pressure to change its rules on presenters wearing the World AIDS Day ribbon.
New figures from PHE showed that there was no slowing in the rise of new HIV infections amongst the gay, bi and MSM community – two years in a row. Coca-Cola is slammed for removing gay couple scene from Irish advert despite civil partnerships being legal.
BBC 4 airs Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves to mark World AIDS day. Tom Daley comes out about his relationship with a man and Mr. Gay UK is announced.
TheGayUK released its first ever tradigital magazine – becoming the UK’s 4th national gay magazine.
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