gay mafia's gonna be on their case now ... there's gonna be some serious bitch slapping going on now (no pun intended)

:-)

lol

Hmmm...

It would be useful to be able to read the article in its entirety. This link features only a few quotes. So we really can't put them into context.

Intelligent people will probably realise that this is the view of one journalist and not the whole publication.

Even out of context, it's quite a mild ststement and something that the gay community jokes about itself. Would be interesting to know the sexuality of the journalist...

This is the comment that got
everyone's gost: "Hmmm...gay
weddings... Gay people and
committment? I don't think so... They'll
be shagg*ng the neighbours before
they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm
afraid. Great way of evading tax
though..."

What bugs me is that in the outrage
that ensued on that forum, there were
so many people willing to be civilised
and discuss the whole reasoning
behind the journalist's bigotry in
context of him being an Asian.

I find that offensive. He's not a
journalist. He's a knob.

Birdy babe, that's NOT a mild
statement. And for the record, I love
Desi Xpress. But homophobia cannot
be tolerated even in loved ones xX

Here's some more links about he same issue:

http://uk.gay.com/boards/read.php?f=5&i=19396&t=19396

http://indymedia.us/en/2006/01/13364.shtml

Demand an apology!

Now what's all this. Im not
too familiar with this
newspaper, but was sent a
few copies by a friend. Well
the paper seems quite
good. Better than some
other Asian publications.
However the 'gay issue'
from this so called
'columnist' has gone way
too far this time round. First
he made comments about
Michael Jackson and now
this. His comments in the
publication are too
personal. Is it his diary
pages or something. The
self confessed columnist!
(what a joke) and he writes
for the BBC?? Dont see
what they see in this prat!
The gay community should
stand together and demand
an apology! I am a straight
person but you cannot use
your silly column and write
your personal views! Asians
in Media get the point
across!

Desi Xpress, Urban Media Ltd,
PO Box 10183, Birmingham B6
9AF
Tel: 0871 872 9893 | Fax: 0871
872 9894 | Email:
info@desixpress.co.uk
Web: www.desixpress.co.uk


Press Release
09.01.01

Official statement from Adam
Yosef

RE: Complaints of homophobia
in the Adam Yosef column

It has come to my attention that
members of the LGBT community
have expressed concerns about
comments made by myself
regarding same-sex
partnerships.

In relation to the comments
featured in my Desi Xpress
column dated December 9th-
15th 2005, Issue 42, in which I
presented my own personal
opinions on the new civil
partnerships, I can assure all
Desi Xpress readers and
members of the LGBT community
that no offence was intended.

My remarks were not of a
homophobic nature as claimed
but rather opinions, which could
have equally applied to the
heterosexual community. They
were not intended as an attack
on the LGBT community but
rather a genuine observation of
domestic relationships,
homosexual or heterosexual.

However, in light of recent
concerns, and to ensure the
comments are not misunderstood
or responsible for any further
offence, I would like to take this
opportunity to fully retract the
statements made in my column in
Issue 42 of Desi Xpress
regarding same-sex partnerships
and offer a full apology to all of
our readers, members of the
LGBT community and anyone
else who may have been
offended by it.

As a further note, I would like to
state that neither I, nor Desi
Xpress as a publication, are in
any way homophobic or
prejudice and we do not
promote, propagate or share a
hatred for any community, group
or individual based on race, age,
ethnicity, belief, sexual
orientation, gender or ability.
Desi Xpress has regularly
featured events and stories of
interest and related to the LGBT
community including coverage of
Birmingham Pride Weekend,
LGBT club listings and LGBT
personals listings.

I hope this statement clears up
any misunderstanding regarding
the content of my column. Thank
you.

Contact:

Desi Xpress Editor, Reena
Combo:
reena@urbanmedialtd.com |
0871 872 9893

"Hmmm...gay weddings... Gay people and committment? I don't think so... They'll
be shagg*ng the neighbours before they even cut the cake. Bad idea I'm afraid. Great way of evading tax
though..."

Hmmm... sounds homophibic to me Adam! Retract your comments - I should bloody well hope so.

Ultimately the buck stops with the Editor - how did this garbage get published in the first place Reena? Where's YOUR apology? Did you read the copy before you published it. It's not enough to say you've published content in support of the gay community in the past. Publishing bigoted bile like this shows incompetence at the highest level.

KH is right - this is not about being asian - this is about publication management not going through the correct checks and balances to ensure this kind of thing doesn't happen. Bad copy-editing is one thing; but casting nasty aspertions on a minority group is another. You of all bloody people should know! Clean your act up Desi Express!

Channel 4 have caught up with
Adams comments and DX.

i have just had a look on the DX website- what bad spelling and English! i found myself repeating each sentence about threee times to actually understand what she was saying!

How the hell did these people get into the industry?

I feel really sorry for all those genuine, talented individuals out there who have been struggling to make it.

I agree with some of the comments on here- clean up your acts DX!

i think they should sack Adam just for the sake of it

Let's not turn this into a medieval witch hunt.

He made a silly throwaway comment that should never have gotten past the editor, but it happened. He has apologised and no doubt will be more careful in the future (one would hope). End of story.

Maybe DX could compensate by running stories on Asian LGBT groups.

Okay, this is going to be a long one but bear with me folks.

I've visited all of the links and messageboards regarding this and it was even doing the round on radio news yesterday. If you look at http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331187.html?c=on#c139279 and the original threads, you will see that some people are supporting Adam Yosef while some are not. The trouble is that many of those trying to vilify the columnist are (a) strongly supporting Tatchell rather than the gay community as a whole and (b) going straight for his faith.

I'm appaulled that they have even brought his faith into question although no doubt it makes their press releases more eye-catching.

Now, a lot of the gay posts are supporting him and view the comment (which was not an article by the way) as simple bitching rather than anything deliberately out to cause offence. Had he said the same about straight people, no-one would care or had a gay person said exactly the same, we would automatically assume it was okay because a gay person can't be homophobic, which begs the question, no-one has disclosed the sexuality of the author so we just don't know.....

When I read mainstream tabloids like The Sun or Mirror, all you get is controversy but it's what makes the paper what it is. Some people complain and some people compliment. Don't you think if Desi Xpress had no critics, that would seriously suggest failure to remain impartial? Impartiality breeds debate and discussion.

Newspapers are supposed to encourage debate and many Asian papers are too dull to do so because they never want to offend absolutely anyone. In this respect, Desi Xpress is probably more like a mainstream tabloid than most of us care to see.

Newspapers get complaints all the time. The Sun is the butt of jokes for most intellectuals but that's why it's successful, because it intrigues and can sometimes be patriotic and personal for the British people while at other times just cruel, far-right and controversial.

Who says Adam Yosef can't write what he did? Surely, all of you people who claim to read Desi Xpress regularly must have read it back then. ALL of you, including the editors, couldn't have just missed it... You have no right to complain if you're just using the sudden and belated launch of a random mass email campaign as an opportunity and excuse to slander a publication you didn't like anyway.

I have also read some of the comments above calling Desi Xpress crap and talking about the editor. For the records, i think Reena has come a very long way and achieved a great deal. how many of you could run a weekly publication? If you look at mainstream tabloids, you will see mistakes and print errors too, although less.

Those calling for Adam Yosef to be sacked are curtailing free speech. He hasn't said anything illegal or inciting hatred. He has just given his view, that's what columnists do. If he doesn't agree with gay marriages and wants to write about them, he's not gonna lie or make something upm he'll give his views. Sure, his style is a bit risque but each tot heir own, jeez.

The guy who questioned why his column was personal like a diary obviously fails to understand the definition of 'column'.
Do you not read Sue Carroll, LittleJohn and Missy D even? The columns are personal. Sometimes with current events, sometimes a bit of news and sometimes diary features, but always a personal comment, opinion or view. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a column but a run of the mill news feature or report. And in any one newspaper, you have lots of opposing views from different columnists. A column is just an article giving opinions or perspectives and Adam gave his. Even Bridget Jones Diary began as a column-are we to say it shouldn't have been personal like a diary?

Also, why has no-one questioned the editors who check the pages, they must have all read it when it came out. i think everyone here and everyone at Desi Xpress read the comment, thought nothing of it and are all now too ashamed to admit that they didn't even think about the sensitivities of the gay community until now.

If everytime someone says something, we surpress views, we will never progress. You people who say you love Desi Xpress and read it. Well, I read it too and I know what kind of stuff Missy D writes about, what Reena Combo writes about and what Adam Yosef writes about. His columns are more political and current affairs rather than entertainment based as are Reena's or personal home and industry stuff like Missy D's, but with some personal life stuff. I can tell you that he has written other much more shocking and controversial stuff in his column. Have you ever complained? No. because you're waiting for some anonymous organisation to send around an email campaign before you launch an attack on an Asian paper, which we should all be supporting. Most of you on this site are industry folk anyway so there's no need to cat-fight and bitch.

Plus, most columnists write in a certain style to achieve a certain kind of reaction. Adam Yosef doesn't seem to write in a similar fashion elsewhere such as the BBC because the audience is different. Desi Xpress readers really would have complained earlier if they were offended.

Yeah, so Desi Xpress needs to tidy up a little with grammar and things but instead of attacking them, have any of you ever emailed the editorial team and suggested improvements or offered to help? if you have, well done. If not, shut yer pie-holes.

The think what hurt me the most is how you've all started to attack each other when we should be supporting each other. From what I've managed to understand, most of this anti-Adam yosef campaign has been personal. i mean, why on earth of all the journalists who have said homophobic stuff about gay marriages have they targeted him. The very same people who are boasting about attacking other Muslims and members of the so-called left-wing Respect party (both of which this columnist fits into).

All I see is a campaign that has duped you guys into attacking a paper and a writer (both of which have equally represented gay and straight Asians and non-Asians) just so they can serve their personal interests.

They have their apology but they're still complaining about another article about tatchell. It's about tatchell, not the gay community but they'll manage to dupe you all into thinking it's a homophobic attack, as if this tatchell bloke is the religious icon of the gay community or something.

I think Desi Xpress is a great publication and I enjoy reading it. If you didn't have the balls to complain before, don't try to jump on some kind of reactionary Outrage! bandwagon. And if you've got nothing nice to say, just don't say anything at all.

They've apologised (not that they should have given in), they're nice people and they're doing well for a new publication. How often do we hear about Asian publications from outside the Asian industry anyway? If Desi Xpress is creating debate in all quarters then good on them, I've not seen any other Asian media do that, have you?

Sunny Hundal is right and in the past he has written some brilliant articles on the freedom of speech. This was just a mishap, a tiny issue for most, even the gay community - I should know, most of my friends alughed it off. But everyone here has helped to take it way out of proportion and that was wrong. They want you to close down Desi Xpress, get people fired. Once they've done that, they'll go after anything they don't like in Eastern Eye or on the BBC Asian Network, then what? Do we just give in?

I think we should just calm down dears and be realistic. We don't need a witch-hunt and we don't need to all fall out because outsiders have hijacked our messageboards.

Responses welcome provided there's no bitching x

Sunnny - is it really that simple? If it were the asian community who were at the end of 'a silly comment' all hell would break loose.

agree this shouldn't turn into a witch hunt, but DX needs to get its house in order. the quality of its journalism is poor. coupled with comments like adam's it sets itself up for criticism.

olly ywist - 'I think Desi Xpress is a great publication and I enjoy reading it. If you didn't have the balls to complain before, don't try to jump on some kind of reactionary Outrage! bandwagon. And if you've got nothing nice to say, just don't say anything at all.'

you want to censor/silence then? folks are entitled to their opinion. some of it may be misguided/ill-informed but they have a right to hold their views. and if it deliberately sets out to offend, they should be prepared to take the flack that goes with it.

and welcome back sunny! ;-)

iv never read it no comment!

I have sex with myself regularly, does that make me gay?

I have many gay friends and very often I've heard them repeat the comments made by Adam.

I know of a few gay couples who are in long term relationships, and I also know of some who are in open relationships and others who are simply just not monogamous. In my humble opinion, I've seen the same in heterosexual relationships.

At the end of the day, I believe that marriage (whether it's gay or str8) is a man made ritual to stop prehistoric behaviour.

Dare I ask, who was the priest that solemnised Adam and Eve wedding, were their children illegitimate..

oh too many questions that have no answers..

one question: seeing as there are so many Asian bridal magazine staff on here.. will u be writing a piece on gay asian weddings - are there any Asian companies that provide services for the happy twosome? Perhaps the journos can interview some clients to see how open they are to providing services for a gay asian wedding?

fab idea samir!!

The article was probably
written by some wannabe
columnist.....attntion
seeking

He should try sticking his
head up his ass and see if
it fit's!

"will u be writing a piece on gay asian
weddings"

Would give an arm and a leg mate, an
arm and a leg...

PS Samir, it wouldn't appear in an
Asian bridal mag because a British
Asian gay marriage hasn't happened
and bridal mags are there to provide a
service for those who get married. If
it's happening, there's no one who
gains from the article

It would be relevant for an Asian
lifestyle mag, but only as a human
interest story, but again, it hasn't
happened.

Maybe Adam and I should get married.
We both know controversy well, maybe
controversy could be our bridesmaid

I'd like to wear the gown, if that's okay
with you Adam old chap...

*if it's (asian gay marriages) NOT
happenning. Which it isn't.

Yet

He's apologised... stupid f***ing story, but he has apologised and retracted it, so just leave at that children.

Inspirational - be quiet calling ppl children on this thread children - you have just slag off Mark from PHS for getting the BBCAN job - now how childish is that???

lol - Very ;)

thanks nora

No probs ;-)

Lyn, when I said 'if you've got nothing nice to say, say nothing at all', I meant in respect of simply hurling abuse at Desi Xpress and Adam Yosef.
Of course, if you have criticisms, voice them but in an orderly manner. Email them, phone them, wahteevr and ask them to respond. But to call them names over this thread like school children in a playground - pur-leeease...
If everyone hereis from the inductry, then I'm shocked at some of things I have read, honestly,I am.
And murryfug, there's really nothing smart about saying offensive and obscene things without even making a valid point. What media outlet do you work for? i sincerely feel sorry for them.
He has apologised and so has Desi Xpress now let's drop it. It's an issue that affected some members of the gay and lesbian community who have had their say here and on other message boards where valid arguments have been made.
The rest of you have just used the whole issue as an excuse so drop it please.
First you attack Reena Combo, then Adam Yosef, then you'll go after Sunny Hundal, then Sonia Deol, then the woman who wrote Behzti - anyone who slighly upsets some members of any random minority community.
This is why ethnic media isn't actually getting anywhere - because we're attacking each other's progression, so no-one else has to really...
What next, attack WH Smith for stocking the Desi Xpress and burn the newspaper on the streets without actually reading it until Reena and Adam go into hiding?

And Kismet, you're right in saying that Asian gay marriages haven't happened here but gay Asians have married people of other races. Of course, I'm sure you and Adam could always be the first although where would that leave the gay community folk who want to attack our Yosef?

I don't want to attack Yosef. I called
him a knob at the start of the thread
because I get wound up by
homophobia. The man retracted, that's
big enough for him.

My marriage proposal stands though

I want to wear peach

"gay Asians have married people of
other races."

really?

first I've heard of it

do enlighhten

Maybe the gay-asian wedding hasn't happened yet.. but if Adam says yes to your proposal ... can I be your brides maid in a dusk-rose sari?

Adam Yosef's comments about Peter Tatchell, comparing hin to the leader of the BNP are so wide of the mark, so ridiculous, as to make you wonder about Adam Yousef's sanity. Peter Tatchell is a commited anti-racist. And Desi Express does itself a disservice if it allows a bigot to rant and rave like a cheap two-bit frothing at the mouth fanatic from the Sun or Daily Mail. Saying Peter Tatchell deserves to be slapped in the face reveals a nasty and disgusting mindset and is incitement to violence.

"WEDDING BASHER SAYS SORRY

A columnist on an Asian newspaper has been forced to retract homophobic comments he made about gay marriage by the group Gay Action Media Watch.
In the entertainment tabloid Desi Xpress, based in the Midlands, journalist Adam Yosef wrote: "Hmmmm... gay weddings... Gay people and commitment? I don't think so...
"They'll be shagging the neighbours before they even cut the cake. bad idea I'm afraid. great way of evading tax though..."
He has now apologised and said he didn't intend to sound homophobic."

- Page 4 - 'Pink Paper', Issue 891, 12 January 2006

Info:
https://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331831.html?c=on#c139904

looks like someone's
seeking attention. but he is
doing it through the wrong
publication. Dragging it into
the shite with him! feel sorry
for the editors who allow
any wanna be to do this!

channel 4s series on what it means to be muslim and gay should be interesting

When's that starting?

next monday 23 jan, c4 8pm

can't understand why they give muslims so much attention on C4 surely someone else should steal the limelight for a while!!

B2b - not sure if they are giving muslims attention on C4, but if u r doing a prog on Asians who are homosexual, i'd probably also focus on muslims, considering that i know there exist lobbying and social groups for gay muslims; don't really know if any exist for other religions.