Racial tension from within the gay community? You wouldn't think it possible, but according to a group of gay Asian males from the UK's Yorksire area it.s a big and growing problem. Some say that they regularly face both verbal abuse and intimidation. "Racism is alive and well but its far worse in Yorkshire than in cities like London and Manchester" Asif told the BBC in a special report for the BBC's Asian network.
"Being gay and Asian means we suffer from many more problems than other gay men do and it takes great courage for us to go out on the scene and mix in public" fellow Yorkshire Asian Arshad said.
They claim the problems, racism and abuse that some of them have had in the northern gay scene means they have been force to stay home, fearing for their own safety. Or suffer in silence - until now.
Naz from Wakefield explained that when he goes out on to the gay scene in Leeds and Bradford he always sees or suffers from racial abuse. "I have a fear now when I go out that there will be racism directed towards me and my friends," he told BBC Asian Network. "It makes us feel very insecure and I don't think its worth going out because of the problems we face."
Ali from Bradford is a regular on the gay scene in the North of England, he goes out every week and tries to ignore the insults but says, inevitably, the racism does get to him."If I go out then I don't like to go on my own," he said. "I always go with friends We get looked at in a funny way. We don't get served in bars unless we protest and we get called Paki or have to deal with comments like 'here come the suicide bombers'."
Both Ali and Naz go to get help and advice from a group called ABC in Bradford who provide a support network for Asian and black gay men in West Yorkshire.
Arshad Khan runs the group and he said: "Being gay and Asian means we suffer from many more problems than other gay men do and it takes great courage for us to go out on the scene and mix in public. Why should we always get stopped going in to a bar or club and searched? We even get asked to take our trousers down to see if we are carrying any weapons"
For more on the plight of the gay British Asian community, visit the BBC or Naz Project websites.
Posted on GayAgenda.com
Jason Shaw
Jason's own blog comes from the heart, the tales of gay life, fighting the grey, loosing weight, finding love, mourning apartments and other assorted ramblings is on The Seafront Diaries.
Ali from Bradford is a regular on the gay scene in the North of England, he goes out every week and tries to ignore the insults but says, inevitably, the racism does get to him."If I go out then I don't like to go on my own," he said. "I always go with friends We get looked at in a funny way. We don't get served in bars unless we protest and we get called Paki or have to deal with comments like 'here come the suicide bombers'."
Both Ali and Naz go to get help and advice from a group called ABC in Bradford who provide a support network for Asian and black gay men in West Yorkshire.
Arshad Khan runs the group and he said: "Being gay and Asian means we suffer from many more problems than other gay men do and it takes great courage for us to go out on the scene and mix in public. Why should we always get stopped going in to a bar or club and searched? We even get asked to take our trousers down to see if we are carrying any weapons"
For more on the plight of the gay British Asian community, visit the BBC or Naz Project websites.
Posted on GayAgenda.com
Jason Shaw
Jason's own blog comes from the heart, the tales of gay life, fighting the grey, loosing weight, finding love, mourning apartments and other assorted ramblings is on The Seafront Diaries.
Adam, can't spell it, but likes it anyway!
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