Manchter's first openly gay Lord Mayor talks to Northern Soul

gay mayor of manchester

Former Manchter Councillor and Mayor Carl At-Behan OBE joed the RAF when he was 19, but was dismissed 1997 after g out as gay.

Contents:

MANCHTER TO SWEAR FIRST OPENLY GAY LORD MAYOR

The former Mr Gay UK was sworn to the historic role- wh a quote om mp dis legends Abba. * gay mayor of manchester *

Manchter is to swear s first openly gay lord mayor the 124-year history of the uncillor Carl At-Behan will formally be award the tle at a ceremony on Wednday.

He says he will e his year the ceremonial post to highlight prejudice towards the trans muny and work to make HIV ttg more readily available Greater 44 At-Behan is not only the cy’s first openly gay lord mayor, but also the youngt.

”At-Behan started his reer the RAF, but was thrown out after six years 1997 for beg gay. The air force found out about his sexualy when a man he was datg told them orr to stop him beg posted preventg gay people om servg the RAF were overturned 2000 and At-Behan marvels at how far Brish society has e sce then. “When they asked me whether I had homosexual tennci, I uld have said no and I don’t thk they would have pursued , ” he says.

FIRST OPENLY GAY LORD MAYOR OF MANCHTER CARL AT-BEHAN HAS AN EMOTNAL MSAGE AS HE STEPS DOWN

Manchter's first openly gay lord mayor has been blocked om re-standg for electn. * gay mayor of manchester *

”Followg an 18-month stt workg for Manchter fire service, At-Behan was crowned Mr Gay UK 2001.

He says he cid to enter the petn orr to provi a role mol for young gay men. “I jt wanted to throw to the mix that I was ex-RAF, an ex-fireman and not your stereotypil gay man. Manchter’s first openly-gay former Mayor, avid mpaigner and muny activist, and current LGBTQ+ advisor Carl-At Behan was among those honoured at Wdsor Castle yterday.

“He has played an active role his muny, cludg through his 14 years the Boys’ Briga as a youngster, voluntary rol later life clu supportg the Northern Air Hospal Rad and Gayd, an LGBT rad statn. He’s an active role his muny, cludg through his 14 years the Boys’ Briga as a youngster, and voluntary rol later supportg the Northern Air Hospal Rad & Gayd, an LGBT rad ’s also pleted two chary treks raisg over 125, 000 chary.

MANCHTER’S FIRST EVER OPENLY GAY LORD MAYOR SWORN – WH AN ABBA QUOTE

A former wner of the Mr Gay UK petn is set to be sworn as the new Lord Mayor of Manchter. * gay mayor of manchester *

He joed the Royal Air Force (RAF) 1991 when he was 19 years old, and had a by reer that clud savg a fellow pilot om a burng aircraft, which subsequently saw him mend for his actns the Queen’s Honours list of 1991 – but was discharged 1997 for beg gay at a time when was illegal to be openly gay the RAF.

After leavg the RAF, he began a reer polics, and was elected to Manchter Cy Council as Labour Member for Burnage ward  May 2011, and then 2016-2017, was ma Lord Mayor of Manchter – beg the cy’s first openly-gay Lord Mayor and one of s youngt at 44. He also took voluntary rol later life that clu supportg the Northern Air Hospal Rad, and LGBT rad statn Gayd, as well as ntug to work promotg equaly and cln the public and private sectors, and has raised signifint sums of money for chari important to him.

FIRST OPENLY GAY LORD MAYOR OF MANCHTER CARL AT-BEHAN BLOCKED OM STANDG FOR ELECTN

* gay mayor of manchester *

Adam* said was dangero to e out as gay his home untry and feared beg forced to an arranged marriage wh a said he was "so lucky" to wed his soulmate, Ray, Manchter and wish everyone uld marry who they love.

There are more than 60 untri wh laws that crimalise same-sex sexual acts acrdg to the Internatnal Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Associatn, cludg Sdi Arabia. 'Authentilly myself'Ray said he had also stggled growg up gay the 1970s and 80s England, which was "tough" said his relig school "dmmed to you, 'you are gog to hell'" Adam returned home to Sdi Arabia, spe beg more than 3, 000 apart and later rtricted by the Covid-19 panmic, they kept touch daily and the romance years ago, Ray proposed on a vio ll and after succsfully applyg for a UK fiancé visa, Adam moved to Manchter December 2022. Adam said he had been aaid to even wear lours his home untry so the first thg he did when he moved was start to "grow my mullet, got my ears pierced and booked appotments for tattoos" relled how, ntrast, one of his gay iends Sdi had been forced to marry a woman, addg: "It has ed not only his life but the life of his wife.

FORMER MR GAY UK BE THE LORD MAYOR OF MANCHTER

The uple, who live London, said a "really betiful memory" was on the way home when one of their sons shouted out of the black b wdow to Trafalgar Square, "My dads jt got married" and cheered "Yay, gay marriage". Retag his sense of humour through the termable unt he scribed as “the agony and the ex-TD” long time nstuency lleague and rival Gay Mchell of Fe Gael scribed Brise after his ath as a pleasant and charmg man who loved his native cyThe oute had huge polil signifince at the time as the failure of Byrne to be elected put an end to the prospects of a rabow aln volvg Democratic Left, Labour and Fe Gael.

All three were advot for the state of Israel a chamber not noted for sympathy for their long time nstuency lleague and rival Gay Mchell of Fe Gael scribed Brise after his ath as a pleasant and charmg man who loved his native cy. Manchter’s first gay Lord Mayor has paid an emotnal tribute to the cy’s young people as he steps down. Four years later he beme Mr Gay UK while workg as an events manager, long before he had set upon on a reer polics.

A highlight, he says, was takg full opportuny of beg the first gay Lord Mayor durg Manchter’s famo pri para, marshallg the event a bright pk cloak. “Gog om dog that route 15 years ago a pair of hot-pants and a sash for Mr Gay UK to then be walkg as one of the most senr people for LGBT wh Manchter – that was a real movg moment for me. The former Mr Gay UK was sworn to the historic role, wh a quote om mp dis legends Abba.

MANCHTER'S FIRST EVER OPENLY GAY LORD MAYOR SWORN - WH AN ABBA QUOTEQUOTG 'THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCSFUL MICIANS EVER,' CARL AT-BEHAN TOLD UNCILLORS: 'I'M GOG TO DO MY VERY A CHANCE ON ME'MENBOOKMARKSHARECOMMENTSNEWSBYJENNIFER WILLIAMS14:25, 19 MAY 2016UPDATED14:27, 19 MAY 2016BOOKMARKCOUN CARL AT-BEHAN SWORN AS LORD MAYOR OF MANCHTERSIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S BIGGT STORI SENT DIRECT TO YOUR BOXMORE NEWSLETTERS SUBSCRIBEINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.MORE NEWSLETTERSWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!WE HAVE MORE NEWSLETTERSSHOW ME SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE&TIM;GROUP 28 SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S BIGGT STORI SENT DIRECT TO YOUR BOXINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.SIGN UPNO THANKS, CLOSEWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE &TIM;GROUP 28THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!

Mr At-Behan took the veted Mr Gay UK crown back 2001 while workg as an events manager, well before cidg to enter polics. Mr At-Behan was forced out of the RAF the 1990s bee he is openly gay jt years before the ary ban was lifted. He told the Manchter Eveng News: “I thought was time we had an openly gay lord mayor.

Manchter’s first openly gay lord mayor has been blocked om re-standg for electn. A former wner of the Mr Gay UK petn is set to be sworn  as the new Lord Mayor of Manchter.

Carl At-Behan, now 44, had taken the veted Mr Gay UK crown back 2001 while workg as an events manager, well before cidg to enter polics. Mr At-Behan, who was forced out of the RAF the 1990s bee he is openly gay jt years before the ary ban was lifted, will be the first openly gay person to take on the role when he is sworn today.

MANCHTER’S FIRST OPENLY GAY MAYOR TO FALLY RECLAIM THE ARY MEDALS TAKEN OM HIM

“I was kicked out of the air force for beg gay 1997. Manchter’s first openly gay Lord Mayor has been sworn to the historic role - wh a quote om dis legends Abba. In 1997 he was kicked out of the RAF for beg gay, at a time when was still illegal.

But on Wednday he thanked the uncil on behalf of the cy’s massive lbian, gay, bisexual and trans muny for s mment to diversy.

MANCHTER'S FIRST OPENLY GAY MAYOR BLOCKED OM STANDG FOR ELECTN AS MOMENTUM GA GROUNDTHE FORMER MR GAY UK SAID HE WAS ‘HURT, UPSET AND GUTTED’ AFTER BEG -SELECTED HIS UNCIL SEATMENBOOKMARKSHARECOMMENTSNEWSBYJENNIFER WILLIAMS21:40, 2 NOV 2017UPDATED21:44, 2 NOV 2017BOOKMARKCARL AT-BEHAN (IMAGE: MARK WGH)SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S BIGGT STORI SENT DIRECT TO YOUR BOXMORE NEWSLETTERS SUBSCRIBEINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.MORE NEWSLETTERSWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!WE HAVE MORE NEWSLETTERSSHOW ME SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE SEE OURPRIVACY NOTICE&TIM;GROUP 28 SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER TO GET THE DAY'S BIGGT STORI SENT DIRECT TO YOUR BOXINVALID EMAILSOMETHG WENT WRONG, PLEASE TRY AGA LATER.SIGN UPNO THANKS, CLOSEWE E YOUR SIGN-UP TO PROVI NTENT WAYS YOU’VE NSENTED TO AND IMPROVE OUR UNRSTANDG OF YOU. THIS MAY CLU ADVERTS OM AND THIRD PARTI BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. MORE &TIM;GROUP 28THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBG!

“But I’m so proud to be Manchter’s first openly gay Lord Mayor and I thk ’s a great reflectn of the tim and particular this wonrful cy of ours that a gay man is supported by his peers to hold such a high profile role and act as an ambassador for the cy. The new Lord Mayor of Manchter Councillor Carl At-Behan, a former Mr Gay UK. Carl At-Behan OBE joed the RAF 1991 when he was 19, but was dismissed 1997 after g out as gay.

It after the Mistry of Defence (MoD) announced on Tuday that those who were wrongly sacked – prr to a change policy 2000 that allowed prevly-banned gay people to serve – will now be able to reclaim medals that were nfisted om them. Carl At-Behan OBE – who served on Manchter Cy Council om 2011-2018, and was the cy’s first openly gay Lord Mayor 2016-2017 – joed the Royal Air Force (RAF) 1991 when he was 19 years old, and had a by reer that clud savg a fellow pilot om a burng aircraft, which subsequently saw him mend for his actns the Queen’s Honours list of 1991.

Speakg to Sky News about the moment dismissed om service, Mr At-Behan said: “When they asked if I was a homosexual I knew my life was about to change. “Some received nvictns unr specified legislatn for homosexual behavur that has now been -crimalised, while others were discharged solely on the basis of their sexualy, whout any nvictn.

MANCHTER’S FIRST OPENLY GAY LORD MAYOR TALKS TO NORTHERN SOUL

Manchter’s first ever openly gay lord mayor has been blocked om standg May’s uncil electn by Labour members, as Momentum ga ground the cy’s party. Coun At-Behan’s term as lord mayor - the year to last May - had ma headl around the world after he beme the first openly gay person to hold the ceremonial posn. The former Mr Gay UK had scribed 2016 how much takg on the posn meant to him, havg been kicked out of the air force the 1990s bee of his sexualy.

WHY MANCHTER’S NEW GAY LORD MAYOR WILL CHANGE ALL OF OUR LIV!

The may be factors but the vast majory of media attentn has foced on the fact that this new Lord Mayor is openly gay, not least that At-Behan is a former Mr Gay UK.

MANCHTER TO SWEAR FIRST OPENLY GAY LORD MAYOR

Beg a key figure the cy and openly gay are separable aspects to At-Behan’s profile. On the one hand, his sexualy has drawn a lot of attentn to the post but, on the other, many dub him ‘the gay mayor’ (although not a rogatory way) which may pigeon-hole perceptns.

I’ve been an advote for gay rights and issu for many years.

I’ve also been Mr Gay UK so have been part of the muny for a long time.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY MAYOR OF MANCHESTER

Manchter’s first openly gay Mayor to fally reclaim the ary medals taken om him | The Manc .

TOP