Update On Reace Mcdonnell

In my previous post I talked about Reace Mcdonnell the 19 year old MYP who was suspended after an "anonymous mother of a teenage boy" found explicit photographs of him on the internet.

In my previous post I did not mention what Andy Hamflett the chief executive of the UK youth parliament had said as I really did not like the way this comment was worded but while speaking to PinkNews Reace mentioned this comment so to give you the full picture here it is.

"Our Primary concern is for the safety of all the young people we work with and we are taking these allegations very seriously.  The young person in  question has been suspended whilst the matter is investigated."

When I first read this comment my first thought was that there primary concern is the safety of all the young people they work with, what exactly is so dangerous about him?

Reace commented in regards to the youth parliament "I suppose they thought they can't be seen to support me.  They said this was a matter of 'child protection' but i'm 19.  They were implying that I was somehow a danger to children."

He also said that the Plymouth Herald who had first published these rumours had contacted him, however the youth parliament had told him not to speak to them.  He said "I get the feeling they were more concerned about looking after themselves than acting in my best interests.  I don't think they will clear my name now because my term as deputy youth parliament member comes to an end in January."

Speaking to pink news Reace said that he believed someone was trying to damage his reputation, he also worried that these malicious rumours would damage his chances of getting into university.  He said "All my positive work has been pushed down on google and this is now at the top.  I'm really upset."

Apparently the youth parliament has contacted him to tell him they are treating this as a case of homophobic bullying against him.


But is it too little, too late?

Again please comment or email GYD@live.co.uk

Thank You

MYP Suspended Over Gay Porn Pictures

A 19 year old openly gay member of the UK youth parliament, Reace McDonnell has been suspended after the mother of a gay teenage boy allegedly found pornographic pictures of him on a porn networking site.

The boys mother said "I am concerned as a mother for my child.  He has recently 'come out' as gay and has been following the out youth in Plymouth.  Reace McDonnell, who leads this group and is an apparent role model for teens in the LGBT community, is on the internet.  My son has spoken to me about this internet site and thinks this is 'cool'"

Reace McDonnell posted on facebook saying "I would like to remind people NOT to believe everything you read in the papers.  I think its really quite pathetic that you should intringe on my life like this, not only at this pivotal stage, but atall, considering im an adult.  My statement is that the allegation is not based on fact and should be discredited and ignored by all who read it."

A close friend of Reace commented "It's sad that people seem to be so interested in Reace's private life when all the hard work he does representing young people in his public life should be more important.  He's quite open about being gay and has regularly stood up to be counted on the important issues affecting LGBT young people like homophobic bullying.  It's ironic that in spite of, or perhaps because of, his hard work he now seems to be the victim of nasty and upsetting rumours"

Now this is where I take Reace's side, I have not seen these images I couldn't possibly say whether they exist or not, however even IF they do exist then he is 19, legally he is an adult so he hasn't done anything illegal and it is entirely up to him what he does in his personal time it is not as if he was advertising these pictures to any of the young people the youth parliament work with.

So if these pornographic photo's do exist then he was keeping them away from his professional/public life so why the hell was he suspended he has done nothing wrong.

Plus just one thing I would like to know, why was the teenage boys mother looking through gay porn on the internet anyway?

I would really love to know people's views on this subject so please either comment or email your views to GYD@live.co.uk

Thank You.