September 28, 2013 By Constance Hall Leave a Comment

Frightened gay stars who live a secret double life

Gay sports stars and entertainers are forced to live a double life with ‘pretend’ girlfriends rather than openly come out about their sexuality.

In two revealing interviews, tough guy footballer Joey Barton and TV soap star Charlie Condou have both spoken out about the fears of homophobia in public life.

Barton, playing for Premiership Queens Park Rangers, criticised managers and players who fail to support gay team mates.

He also revealed his uncle hid is sexuality for year over concerns about rejection among his family and friends.

“It’s a subject quite close to my heart because my dad’s youngest brother, the youngest of my uncles, is gay. And I didn’t know for a long, long time,” said Barton in The Sun.

“He thought because of the society that we were brought up in, which was quite working class, that it would be frowned upon or that we would disown him.

“So for a lot of years he was in turmoil and was resenting himself for the fact he had these feelings.”

Meanwhile, Condou, writing in The Guardian, claimed coming out ruined actor Rupert Everett’s career – and his views are reflected in a recent survey from entertainer’s union Equity.

The findings showed only 57% of gay actors feel they can be open about their sexuality to their agents.

“A previous agent of mine once told me to keep quiet about my sexuality and, though I am out, I do not broadcast it,” said one.

Condou also explained many of Hollywood’s biggest stars are gay – but refuse to admit their sexuality.

“I can’t relate at all. For my entire career I’ve never had a problem being frank about my sexuality, never felt I’ve been turned down for a role on the basis of being gay, and have only played three gay characters in a career that spans 20 years,” wrote Condou.

“The idea that keeping your sexuality a secret will win you better and more varied roles is a lame excuse – often the result of internalised homophobia rather than reality. The industry has moved on and it’s time actors did as well.”

Condou also wrote about gay actors he knew who had told the media they have girlfriends and want to settle down as a family rather than admit the truth about their lifestyle.

September 28, 2013 By Constance Hall Leave a Comment

Bishop out of step with his gay marriage protest

More than 50,000 people replied to a consultation on full marriage equality laws – which is more responses prompted by any other issue put before the public in Scotland.

As a result, Scotland is likely to have marriage equality by the end of 2013 – a full two years of the expected start date of similar laws in England and Wales.

The Scottish government is analysing feedback and is expected to publish a draft bill in the spring.

Meanwhile, in England and Wales, consultation is yet to start after being put back twice by the government, but is scheduled to begin in March.

Opinion polls predict the majority of Scots support equal marriage, including the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey in 2010 which reported 61% support against just 19% opposition. The survey canvassed all major faiths and political parties in Scotland.

Meanwhile, controversy surrounds the move in England, where the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, wrote a lengthy comment opposing full marriage equality in the Daily Telegraph.

He argues marriage is not a secular matter for the government to legislate on, but a matter between a man and a woman and not same-sex couples.

Dr Sentamu has been criticised for his ‘outmoded’ and ‘archaic’ belief by supporters of full equality in marriage.

The protests culminated in 50 demonstrators from the University of York’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group forming a picket line outside York Minster.

“Whilst the Archbishop may say that it is not the place of the government to define what marriage is, I would argue that it is the state’s responsibility to ensure that all UK citizens can enjoy equal rights regardless of their sexual orientation,” said a spokesman.

Dr Sentamu seems to have stirred up a hornet’s nest with his comments – and as Andrew Brown writes in The Guardian, he should know better because the Bible may have been written in age where gay marriage was an abomination, but he comes from modern Britain where cultural attitudes are more accommodating.

September 28, 2013 By Constance Hall Leave a Comment

May signposts public sector diversity audit u-turn

May signpost public sector diversity audit u-turn

Equalities Minister Theresa May has backtracked on proposals to audit public sector workers on personal issues like sexuality, disability and religion.

She has published a written statement in Parliament suggesting the plan to ask around 27,000 public sector organisations, including schools, police and councils is under revision.

Although she has not stated so outright, the £28.6 million cost of the audit in times of government austerity and cuts may have something to with her decision.

In the statement, May said: “We have considered the draft regulations further in the light of our policy objective of ensuring that public bodies consider equality when carrying out their functions without imposing unnecessary burdens and bureaucracy.

“As a result, we think there is room to do more to strip out unnecessary process requirements.”

A separate policy review explains public organisations will not have to publish details of any “engagement” or “equality analysis”’ reviews involved in drafting policy or equality objectives.

The revised proposals were due to become law on April 6, 2011 but are now subject to delay.
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) also announced that the commencement date for the new general equality duty for England, Scotland and Wales will be April 5, 2011.
“This revision of the specific duties may create a degree of uncertainty for public authorities,” said the Equality and Human rights Commission. “The commission previously set out its views on the previous draft regulations and we will review the new proposals before submitting our views to the GEO.

“We support the aim to reduce bureaucracy and we will need to examine the new proposals closely to make sure that they offer organisations certainty; without that certainty public bodies will simply replace bureaucratic procedures with legalistic overprotection to guard against every possible source of challenge.

“Our focus remains on providing public authorities with the information and guidance that they need to prepare for the new equality duty.”

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May signpost public sector diversity audit u-turn

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