Super cute former copper turned politico Brian Paddick lost his bid to be London’s next mayor. Tory Boris Johnson won the election, which may not be so good for the gays: he’s against same-sex unions and, according to reports, lashed out at his party peers for attempting to woo the homos. He also opposes fun, dancing and unicorns. Okay, we made that last bit up, but it makes sense. [365 Gay]

Some British Catholics are sticking to their homophobic guns.

Rather than complying with new anti-discrimination laws, Bishop Malcolm McMahon and his pious pals at the Catholic Children’s Society - and other agencies - will no longer provide adoptions. Because archaic ideology’s way more important than a child’s happiness.

Said McMahon: We have been coerced into this, I am not happy about it at all. The regulations have coerced the children’s society into going against the Church’s teaching, and we don’t wish to do that. McMahon promises that his group will try their hardest to “merge” with another adoption agency. That way the sin’s placed on someone else!

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A judge sentenced a mother and daughter pair to 150 days in jail and 24-months probation, respectively, after they launched an “anti-gay campaign” against two homo neighbors. The magistrates weren’t having it, saying, “Although there was no evidence of violence, the psychological affect on the victims has been far reaching… You made homophobic gestures and remarks over an extended period and you showed no remorse.” [BBC]

British politicians better gear up for battle.

The House of Lords voted last night to amend Justice Secretary Jack Straw’s “gay hate law,” which offers strict sentencing for homophobic remarks and actions that can be perceived as threatening. Many people, like Tory Home Secretary Lord Waddington, wonder whether such a law would trample freedom of speech. When it comes to language touching on matters of sexual orientation, there has already been a load of trouble with the police misapplying the existing Public Order Act. It is our plain duty to try to prevent this continuing to happen. The issue would be moot, of course, if people just got over the gays and minded their own business.
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Some small British bars have been feeling the economic strain, so they’re hoping to replenish their coffers by courting the queers. We feel dirty and used… [Wigan Today]

A British gay bar may sue the police, whose 2007 raid they blame on loss of business. [Birmingham Mail]

Britain’s Unitarians are playing hard ball!

Rather than work within “unjust” nuptial laws, the 300 year old Newington Green Unitarian Church has suspended all official weddings until gay people are given equal treatment. They will, instead, offer blessing for straight and gay couples who have gone through a civil ceremony.

Said Minister Andrew Pakula: When we realized the extent of the injustice in the existing civil partnership law which completely prohibits any connection between religion and civil partnerships, we decided it just wasn’t something we could take part in.

We have at this point continued to do blessings and civil partnership blessings so anyone who has done the legal business in the town hall … Continued…

Lil’ gay boys have it rough.

A survey out of England indicates that young men face more homophobic bullying than their female peers. This should come as no surprise. As musician Quentin Harris suggested this morning, there’s more pressure on men not to seem weak.

Yes, he was talking about the hip-hop scene, but we say that’s a pretty universal rule: men are meant to act like men, and those who don’t will face the consequences. Lawrence King’s widely covered murder perfectly highlighted the perpetual assault on feminine men.

What a perfect time, then, for homo hip-hop artist, Q-Boy, to come out against bullying. And, on an even bigger scale, the uproar against Jay Leno.
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UK’s gray gays got some love today when the Commission for Social Care Inspection released a statement suggesting rest homes discourage anti-gay workers: “They declared that the million people who work in care homes or helping elderly and disabled people in their own homes should be required to ’support’ lesbian and gay people. That means they should make homosexuals ‘feel welcome and able to come out if they wish…’” [Daily Mail]

This one goes out to all you sports lovers: “One of this year’s leading rugby union clubs was enjoying another win in the bar of a Westcountry hotel last week. Many of the players got wildly drunk and started to annoy the other residents by swiping people’s drinks. Other players just retired to a room for a bonding Circle Jerk.” [popbitch]

The UK’s asylum system, which has dragged its feet on granting asylum to a number of endangered gay refugees, including Iranian Mehdi Fazemi, comes under official fire this morning. A detailed independent commission’s report details a “culture of disbelief” within the branch’s ranks and blasts their “oppressive,” “adversarial” attitude toward asylum seekers, which prefers incarceration to freedom. [Independent]

London mayoral candidate and former cop Brian Paddick’s been running around our pretty little head today. It all started when we chatted about his forth coming autobiography, in which he talks about his boyfriend’s physical abuse.

Sure, it’s not a very sexy topic, but it got us thinking about him. Plus the story has been everywhere, so it’s kind of hard to avoid his face.

Then, later in the afternoon, after we had worked through the brunt of our Paddick distraction, we came across some pictures from this weekend’s Lighthouse Gala Auction, which made us think about Paddick even more.

And now it’s all over. We can no longer contain ourselves…
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Brian Paddick’s life is an open book. Literally.

The former London copper and current mayoral hopeful recently penned an autobiography, Line of Fire, in which he spills all of his beans. The book won’t be released until later this month, but Londoners have been getting sneak peeks, including a look into Paddick’s tumultuous coming out experience, like leaving his fiance and shacking up with an abusive boyfriend, James Renolleau: On one occasion he stormed out after an argument and I ran after him, calling for him to come back.

When I caught up with him he wheeled round, floored me with a punch and started kicking me while I lay in the gutter.

All I … Continued…

British activists are protesting the National Blood Service’s ban on gay blood. Like the States’ FDA, NBS believes gay men are more likely to pass on HIV infected blood. The service does not, however, have regulations for high-risk heteros. [BBC]

Local British politicos are pushing for a toilet cruising spot to be demolished after Peter Akers‘ stabbing death last month. The area was already set to be replaced with new facilities - and a cafe! - but the murder may speed up the process. [Wimbeldon Guardian]