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BIRMINGHAM LGBT VENUES TO BOYCOTT WORLD CUP GAMES

Published
4 days ago

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Image caption,
Lawrence Barton, the director of Birmingham Pride, said his community mattered
more than making money

Several venues in Birmingham's Gay Village will not show World Cup games because
of Qatar's treatment of LGBT people, a business leader said.

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, where same-sex relationships can be
punishable by the death sentence.

Qatar has said all fans will be welcomed "without discrimination" but
businessman Lawrence Barton said his venues would not be showing games.

"Our community matters more than making money," he said.

Mr Barton, who is also director of Birmingham Pride, said his venues had been
packed when they had shown games for previous tournaments.

"It's usually a fantastic success, really well attended but I'm afraid there is
no way I could ever consider profiting from knowing that that is the situation
in Qatar with our community," he added.



"As a visitor [to Qatar] I could be arrested and put in prison for simply being
gay."


Image caption,
Mr Barton runs several venues in Birmingham's Gay Village

Elsewhere, Birmingham comedian Joe Lycett issued an ultimatum to Qatar World Cup
ambassador David Beckham.

He promised to donate £10,000 of his own money to charity but only if Beckham
ended his "reported £10million" deal with Qatar.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet
on Twitter

If he refused, Lycett said he would shred the £10,000 just before the opening
ceremony of the World Cup.

David Beckham has been contacted by the BBC for comment.

There are widespread concerns about how LGBT people are treated in Qatar and
Beckham has been urged to speak out on the criminalisation of same-sex relations
in the country.



Last week, Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman made headlines when it
emerged he had referred to homosexuality as "damage in the mind".

He told German broadcaster ZDF that LGBT people attending the tournament should
"accept our rules".

The former Qatar international's comments were called "harmful and unacceptable"
by Human Rights Watch.

Sam Timms, founder of Aston Villa's LGBT supporters network, said he "took his
hat off" to Lycett for highlighting the issue.

People need to stand up because the community has been treated as a "political
tennis ball", he added.

"It's crazy to think you as your authentic self are restricted to go somewhere
in the world," Mr Timms said.



Qatar's World Cup organisers have stated "everyone is welcome" to visit the
country to watch the football matches.



Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story
ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk


MORE ON THIS STORY

 * Call to warn LGBT+ World Cup fans about Qatar risk
   
   11 November
   
   

 * Qatar ambassador views on homosexuality 'harmful'
   
   8 November
   
   

 * Captains are asked to speak out on rights in Qatar
   
   27 October
   
   

 * Crowds gather for 25th year of Birmingham Pride
   
   24 September
   
   

 * Beckham urged to speak out on Qatar
   
   26 October 2021
   
   


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