Sex and its procurement via an app can be a tricky journey to navigate.
Sometimes it goes epically wrong. Thanks to Instagram for the #GrindrFails that show that perhaps we need to put the phone down and go out and meet some people in RL.
Day: 1 June 2016
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Christian Rock Singer Trey Pearson Comes Out As Gay
Christian Rock singer Trey Pearson has come out as gay in a heartfelt letter to his fans.
CREDIT: ҚЯĀŽΨÇÉV13 / Under CC License from Wikipedia
The lead singer of a Christian rock group, Everyday Sunday has come out as gay. Speaking directly to his fans in a heartfelt letter, Trey Pearson revealed that coming out has lifted a weight and that he’s never felt such freedom.
“I never wanted to be gay. I was scared of what God would think and what all of these people I loved would think about me,
“But if this honesty with myself about who I am, and who I was made by God to be, doesn’t constitute as the peace that passes all understanding, then I don’t know what does. It is like this weight I have been carrying my whole life has been lifted from me, and I have never felt such freedom.”
He said that he hoped his fans “would hear his heart” and that he would still be loved. His band has had considerable successful since their first album released in 2009.
“I hope people will hear my heart, and that I will still be loved. I’m still the same guy, with the same heart, who wants to love God and love people with everything I have.”
ALSO READ: Celebrities who have said they’re a little bit gay
He told The Washington Post that he hoped the new album that he is due to release this autumn won’t be affected by revealing his sexuality.
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LGBT Peoples We’d Like To See As The Next Bond
Much is being said about who is destined to be the next Bond and well here at THEGAYUK we’d like to see a bit of diversity…
So if Spectre is Daniel Craig’s last film in the Bond franchise and the job is up for grabs, we’ve got some suggestions from our very own community.
1) Paris Lees
Although we can’t find her age (how you do this in this modern age of Wikipedia, Google and FB is a dark art – something that could come in handy for a Bond), so we’re guessing she’s mid to late 20s, Paris Lees might be a little too young to play Bond, but how magnificent would she be. Outspoken, witty, dresses to kill, well connected and knows how to mix a good cocktail we’re told.
2) Andrew Hayden-Smith, 32
CREDIT: Monty McKinnen for THEGAYUK
Swave, British, easy on the eye and Northern – we’ve yet to have a Tyne And Wear bred Bond and we think it’s about time. He’d be the youngest Bond to play the part if he got it, but since Bonds need to last a decade we could definitely see Hayden-Smith maturing into the role nicely.
3) Sue Perkins, 46
CREDIT: (C) Love Productions – Photographer: Des Willie
Sue Perkins’ got the smarts and the sense of humour. She exudes confidence, which is a must for any Bond.
Bond, Sue Bond – no wait doesn’t she already exist?
4) Martyn Andrews, 36,
Former cover star for THEGAYUK, Martyn is an international man having travelled the world extensively. He’s multi-lingual and a genius when it comes to Russian politics having served at a journalist for RT for nearly 10 years. At over 6’3″ he’d be one of the tallest Bonds to date.
5) Wentworth Miller, 43
CREDIT: ©-S-Buckley-Depositphotos
The perfect age for a Bond – plus Wentworth Miller’s got that whole prison thing going for him.
Plus he looks amazing in a suit – so what more do you really need?
6) Alan Cumming, 51
CREDIT: kathclick/bigstock
Scottish born Alan Cumming, showed his Machiavellian side in The Good Wife, we think Alan could definitely pull off a gay bond. At 51 he may be a little too old – as Bonds should ideally last about 10 years in the role – which means by his last film he’d be into his 60s. He wouldn’t be the first Scot to play Bond, rather famously Sean Connery embodied the role and is considered one of the best Bonds ever.
7) Asifa Lahore
CREDIT: Monty McKinnen for THEGAYUK
Can you imagine audience reactions to Britain’s most famous Muslim Drag Queen as Bond. It gives us shivers now, which is why we’re nominating her for the role. Asifa could be her own Bond girl as well – saving money on the budget.
8) Gareth Thomas
How’s about a Welsh Bond? Physically fit, a man’s man and knows a thing or to about the important of blending in with your crowd. Although Bond often works alone you need a man who knows the importance of teamwork.
9) John Partridge, 44
CREDIT: Channel 5
He’s got the looks and he’s the perfect age. EastEnders’ bad gay boy would be perfect for James Bond. Plus he looks divine all suited and booted. Aside from the perfect look, he’s got a heart of gold and he loves his mother – we’d like to see more of this fluffy side to bond.
10) Seann Miley Moore, 26
Hey if we’re going to totally f*ck with the heteronormative brand of James Bond we might as well suggest Seann Miley Moore. The X Factor star moved from Sydney, Australia to London to make his dream come true, proving that he’s ready to move mountains to get the job done.
He wouldn’t be the first Aussie to take the part, George Lazenby played Bond in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
ALSO READ: Bond… Real Bond Interview with the stunt man for James Bond
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THEATRE REVIEW | Shadowlands
★★★★★ – So emotional, I couldn’t help but cry.
Credit: Jack Ladenburg
Last night was one of those nights where you sit there, and for the whole of the two hours you felt so lucky to be a theatre reviewer. I didn’t think theatre could touch a person that deep, in the way that William Nicholson’s Shadowlands undoubtedly did.
“Shadowlands is based on events that occurred in the lives of two real people – C.S Lewis and Joy (Davidman) Gresham (…) I have used parts of their story, not used other parts, and imagined the rest.” – William Nicholson.
‘Jack’ Lewis and Joy Davidman were played by Stephen Boxer and Amanda Ryan respectively, and I will never see the two actors as themselves again. C.S Lewis and Joy were resurrected and put on stage for the audience of the 21st Century to see the marvel that his world was, and the imagination he had, through William Nicholson’s own genius take on Chronicles of Narnia legend’s life. The portrayal was too surreal to be called acting. For a week only, the two lives come alive and let us in to see the lives that lived in and around C.S Lewis’.
Credit: Jack Ladenburg The formidable writing of Nicholson astonishingly captivates C.S Lewis and you were reminded of Narnia, as the story was told. I particularly adored the moment in which Lewis sparked the notion of magic with young Douglas, who wanted to believe in it so bad. Having seen The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Christmas at the Birmingham Rep, I was gleefully pleased to see some features used for this. It made the experience so much more magical.
It is rare not to be able to control your lacrimal glands in public, but this story pushed them out of you whether you liked it or not. And I wasn’t the only one, with sniffles and other crying-like noises surrounding me, the whole theatre could not help but give in to the emotions of the heart-breaking story. One couple were so engrossed that were constantly saying: “Oh dear” as the action darkened.
The subliminal acting, combined with almost too-good-to-be-true storytelling by William Nicholson evoked emotions that could not help but escape the depths of the human soul. “The happiness now, is part of the pain then.” Said Joy when she was on holiday with Jack, as the dreaded end was near, which touched so many people.
Other acting, from Denis Lill (Warnie), Simon Shackleton (Prf Christopher Riley) and all the others contributed to the fullness of the play, and created exquisite drama which helped bring to life the man who made so many of our childhoods magical and filled with wonder.
Shadowlands plays at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre until 4 June.
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Denmark Removes Transgender From Mental Illness List
Denmark has declassified transgender from its list of mental illnesses.
The Danish Parliament has ushered in a historic victory in the struggle for transgender rights by today adopting a decision to no longer stigmatise transgender identities as mental disorders, said Amnesty International.
Leda Avgousti, Amnesty’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisor, said,
“This very encouraging move from Denmark sets a strong example internationally towards destigmatising transgender people and paving the way for quick and transparent processes for legal gender recognition.
“It is disgraceful that globally the norm is for transgender people to be placed under the category of mental disorders because of their gender identity. This label means that transgender people are forced to undergo traumatizing and humiliating psychiatric evaluations in order to legally change their gender or even to be able to access gender reassignment treatment.”
The move positions Denmark as a frontrunner in improving transgender rights globally, as pressure is mounting on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to stop classifying transgender identity as a mental disorder in its International Classification of Disorders (ICD).
The WHO is set to revise the ICD by 2018. Removing transgender identities from this classification of mental disorders would encourage countries worldwide to do the same.
The decision in Denmark follows campaigning from Amnesty International and other human rights and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations and activists.
This article was from Amnesty International. It was not paid for.
Credit: Jack Ladenburg 