Bomb scare brings Brighton Pride to a halt

A bomb scare has brought Brighton Pride to a halt today (1 August).

A police spokesperson confirmed the existence of a ‘suspicious package’ on the British city seafront on Kings Road, just a few yards away from where the parade was set to leave.

Speaking to Gay Star News, the policeman at Kings Road confirmed that a ‘suspicious package had been left there and was being dealt with by the authorities’.

Sussex Police confirmed expert explosive officers are dealing with it.

The parade was originally meant to set off at 11am. It then left at 12.30pm, taking the alternative route of Lansdowne Place.

Chief Superintendent Nev Kamp said: ‘We are working with Pride organizers to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and ensure the safety of those attending Pride celebration as well as those going about their daily business in the city.’

Amanda Barnes, a 33-year-old gay woman celebrating Pride with her wife and four-year-old child, said she was ‘frustrated’ by the delay but was understanding.

She told GSN: ‘Yes, it’s frustrating that the parade was delayed. But the police know what they’re doing and they’re doing what they can to keep us safe.

‘The weather is great, the atmosphere is amazing, I’m sure everyone here is going to have a good day.’

The post Bomb scare brings Brighton Pride to a halt appeared first on Gay Star News.

Joe Morgan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/bomb-scare-brings-brighton-pride-to-a-halt/

Kevin Hart Still Doesn’t Want A Gay Son

If Kevin Hart is expecting the LGBT community to support his next movie, he might be a little disappointed. The vertically-challenged actor and comedian, who is profiled and featured on the cover of the current issue of Rolling Stone, revisited an old joke during the interview about his fears of having a gay son.

During the 2010 Seriously Funny tour, Hart told audiences, “One of my biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay. That’s a fear. Keep in mind, I’m not homophobic…Be happy. Do what you want to do. But me, as a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will.” The bit continues with Hart imagining scenarios of how he would react to any possible displays of his son’s homosexuality by repeatedly telling the child “Stop, that’s gay!”

When discussing this with Rolling Stone, Hart explained, “It’s about my fear. I’m thinking about what I did as a dad, did I do something wrong, and if I did, what was it? Not that I’m not gonna love my son or think about him any differently. The funny thing within that joke is it’s me getting mad at my son because of my own insecurities — I panicked.”

He goes on to explain, “It has nothing to do with him, it’s about me. That’s the difference between bringing a joke across that’s well thought-out and saying something just to ruffle feathers.”

We’re not exactly sure what to make of this thought process; however, telling any kid to stop acting gay, kind of does have something to do with the child and has very little to do with you, Kevin. It creates shame, inhibition, and a belief that there is something wrong with him or her. Furthermore, implying to an audience that the fault of a gay son or daughter lies within the parent is just wrong.

Hart concluded his thoughts about that “fear of a gay son” joke by stating, “I wouldn’t tell that joke today, because when I said it, the times weren’t as sensitive as they are now. I think we love to make big deals out of things that aren’t necessarily big deals, because we can. These things become public spectacles. So why set yourself up for failure?”

Not to mention that if you can’t coherently explain a joke five years later, it’s probably best to retire it.

While we wish continued success to Kevin Hart (because wishing failure would be spiteful and petty), we do have a newsflash for him: Our current times are not so much about sensitivity as they are about being progressive and forward-thinking. A gay son has nothing to do with bad parenting. As a matter of fact, there is no failure in having a gay child. Why? Because that’s the way they were born.

Perhaps Kevin should reach out to PFLAG for some additional insight about this topic.

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/H6gxPoV62to/kevin-hart-still-doesnt-want-a-gay-son-20150801

BOOKS: Stroking Desires

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Christopher Harrity

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/books/2015/08/01/books-stroking-desires

‘Oldest gay in the village’ marries partner ahead of Brighton Pride

Ninety-two year old George Montague, who calls himself ‘the oldest gay in the village,’ is believed to be the oldest gay man in the world to marry after he converted his civil partnership with his partner of 16 years Somchai Phukkhlai into a marriage this week.

According to the BBC, the couple converted their partnership into a marriage at Brighton Town Hall as the city marks its 25th anniversary this weekend.

The Parliament of the United Kingdom passed legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry in England and Wales in July 2013; the laws came into force on 13 March 2014.

‘I tell everybody I’m the luckiest, happiest old gay man alive,’ Montague said in an ITV interview.

He was quoted as saying to BBC South East Today’s Ellie Chrisell that ‘gay people had never had it so good.’

Montague, who was married with three children, didn’t come out until he was 59. He was also convicted under Britain’s former anti-gay laws in his mid-40s, according to Pink News.

Gay sex acts were decriminalized in England and Wales in 1967.

The post ‘Oldest gay in the village’ marries partner ahead of Brighton Pride appeared first on Gay Star News.

Sylvia Tan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/watch-video-oldest-gay-in-the-village-marries-partner-ahead-of-brighton-pride/