Tag Archives: Britain

The Huffington Post UK reports: Milo Yiannopoulos, the self-styled poster child of the ‘alt-right’ movement, has gone down like a bucket of cold sick after a tense televised encounter with Channel 4 News’s Cathy Newman where he claimed the wage gap and university rape culture is “not real”. The Breitbart News senior editor brought his right-wing schtick to the broadcaster …

The Christmas ad for Britain’s John Lewis department store chain is always big news and pundits love to find metaphors for current events. This year is no different. The Guardian reports: In theory, the intention was admirable. But this year has been such a domino stack of heartbreaking disappointment that John Lewis wouldn’t have had to do much to make …

The BBC reports: Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the EU, the High Court has ruled. This means the government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – beginning formal exit-negotiations with the EU – on its own. Theresa May says the referendum – and existing ministerial powers – mean MPs do …

My latest column has been posted to the website of Britain’s Pride Life magazine, in which I discuss the blessedly final days of the presidential campaign, Trump’s threat to LGBT rights, and the theory that there are “hidden” Trump voters. Hit the link, kittens. DISCLOSURE: Pride Life is owned by the US company that also produces InterPride’s annual US pride …

The BBC reports: The Scottish government is to move to pardon men who were convicted of same-sex offences before laws against homosexuality were scrapped. The UK government has announced plans for posthumous pardons for men who were convicted under laws now abolished. There was controversy after an SNP members’ bill on the topic was “talked out” at Westminster, with Theresa …

UKIP led the Brexit campaign and is widely characterized as Britain’s version of the Tea Party. The Telegraph reports: A UKIP leadership candidate has apologised for claiming that a “homosexual donkey” tried to rape his horse in response to a question about whether some gay men prefer sex with animals. John Rees-Evans said the remark, which he made in 2014, …

The Mirror reports: Pete Burns has died unexpectedly of a heart attack, his manager has confirmed. The star rose to fame in the 80s appeared in Celebrity Big Brother 4. In a statement on Twitter, Pete’s manager wrote: “It is with the greatest sadness that we have to break the tragic news that our beloved Pete Burns of (Dead Or …

The Sun reports: There was widespread anger in the House of Commons as the Government talked out the Turing bill, which would automatically pardon gay men convicted of now abolished sexual offences. MPs shouted ‘shame’ and ‘shameful’ as Justice Minister Sam Gyimah killed off SNP MP John Nicolson’s private members bill. The Government has announced plans for thousands of gay …

Last month the office of British Prime Minister Teresa May signaled that this would happen but gave no timeline. Today we get confirmation. The Guardian reports: Gay and bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences in England and Wales are to receive posthumous pardons, the government has announced. Thousands of living men convicted over consensual same-sex relationships will also be …

People recaps: Royal fans, clear your schedules for Nov. 4. Why? That’s the date Netflix’s new historically-inspired, royally-inclined show, The Crown drops online. Though the next five weeks might be agonizing to wait through, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal a taste of the show in its first official trailer. The series follows Queen Elizabeth II’s – played by Claire Foy – …

The Independent reports: Theresa May’s government is committed to introducing an ‘Alan Turing law’ and will, in due course, pardon thousands of gay men convicted under historic gross indecency crimes. Mr Turing, the Enigma code breaker responsible for decrypting Nazi messages, was granted a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 – 61 years after he was charged at the Manchester police …

Nobody ever accused the pro-Trump, pro-Brexit UKIP of being scientific geniuses. Business Insider reports: Douglas Carswell, UKIP’s sole MP, got into a bizarre Twitter argument about what causes tides. Carswell, who is renowned for being vocal online, decided to pick a fight on Monday night with someone who said, correctly, that the moon is mainly responsible for tidal movement. The …

Britain’s Bucks Free Press reports: A grammar school has been accused of handing out ‘homophobic’ work after a maths question sparked fury amongst parents and students. The shocking question, handed out by a school volunteer to a group of students at the all-boys Royal Grammar School, in High Wycombe, suggests only men and woman should get married “as God intended”. …

The Independent reports: Families were warned of a possible £40 ‘holiday tax’ to travel to the EU as the price of Brexit, after a bombshell Government admission. Home Secretary Amber Rudd revealed that a Brussels scheme that would require permission to be granted – and a fee paid – before departure could be adopted, saying “We don’t rule it out.” …

The BBC reports: Labour MP Keith Vaz has stepped down as chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee. It follows newspaper claims he paid for the services of two male sex workers. He said: “It is in the best interest of the Home Affairs Select Committee that its important work can be conducted without any distractions whatsoever. “I am genuinely …

Says who? Via The Hill: Republican nominee Donald Trump on Thursday attempted to draw a comparison between himself and the Brexit decision in June. “They will soon be calling me MR. BREXIT,” the GOP nominee tweeted Thursday morning. In June, after British voters chose to leave the European Union, Trump applauded the people who he said “took their country back.” …

The BBC reports: About 200 people carrying rainbow flags descended on an east London supermarket for a mass “kissathon” after a gay couple were ejected for holding hands. Thomas Rees, 32, and Joshua Bradwell, 25, were in Sainsbury’s on Hackney Road when a guard told them a woman had complained about their behaviour. The protestors danced outside the Hackney Road …

Massive Attack and Mazzy Star’s vocalist together! IndieWire reviews: Cate Blanchett is front and center in the latest Massive Attack video for their single “The Spoils,” released Tuesday. The six-minute clip is an eerie visual that shows the Oscar-winning actress’ face in front of a black backdrop. Highlighting her features from all angles, she then undergoes a transformation and morphs …

The Telegraph reports: Approximately 50,000 British holidaymakers currently in Florida should avoid unprotected sex for the rest of the summer holidays because of the risk from Zika virus, according to government advice. An outbreak of four mosquito-transmitted cases yesterday prompted Public Health England (PHE) to advise pregnant women to consider postponing non-essential travel to the southern US state. But for …

The Week reports: Jeremy Clarkson has called the proposal to install gender-neutral toilets in the House of Commons “potty”. In a column for The Sun newspaper, the journalist and TV presenter said that while many in the house regard the move as “part of an ongoing struggle to fight sexism and prejudice”, it is “more like part of an ongoing …