Gay icons Kylie and Dannii Minogue look so cute together in a throwback picture shared by Kylie on Instagram. The pop-princesses look so happy together, holding hands, in the ultimate throwback picture. Kyles was wished her little sis a happy birthday, who is 45 today.
TV star David McIntosh has left nothing to the imagination. He’s not naked but he might as well be.
David McIntosh
Once again Celebrity Big Brother star David McIntosh has found a rather showing picture of his being pulled by Instagram, but luckily for you, Twitter is a little less fussy.
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In one of his latest posts, David uploaded a picture which fully shows off the size of his manhood and all we can say is WOOF. Click here to see the picture NSFW (ISH)
Red Dwarf has used various styles this series and this new episode is no different. After a fast paced big cast episode, a filmic flashback, a horror time travel episode and a body horror technology based episode we have another first for the series: cute and fuzzy friendship feels!!
★★★★
Red Dwarf – Series 11 – Ep05 – “Krysis” –
This episode proves just how much the characters have grown and developed over the years. The bickering foursome have developed into a dysfunctional but caring family. Sure they might bicker and grumble, but after so many centuries together, they do care.
Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) is feeling depressed and the guys fear he might suffer from a midlife crisis and they are soon proven right. As Kryten goes through various stages of midlife crisis at an alarming speeds and feels increasingly low about himself and his accomplishments, Dave Lister (Craig Charles) thinks it’s time for an intervention. Of course things do not go completely to plan.
Red Dwarf – Series 11 – Ep05 – “Krysis”
What makes this an interesting episode is seeing Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie) and the Cat (Danny John-Jules) as part of the team, trying to help out but with their characteristics still in tact. This is very clever writing. It’s good to see characters grow up and learn and it shows that the show works even without constant clashes and insults. The heart of the show is these characters being there for each other despite their differences.
Since arriving on the scene in 2013, Sassi Afrika has quickly made her mark as a unique talent and fresh addition to the UK’s drag scene. After taking some time out to record her second album, Pleasure, Sassi is now back on the scene and ready to conquer the world. But first I wanted to pull the great lady to one side, admire her weave, and put some burning questions to her.
CREDIT: Jake Hook/TheGayUK
DB: Sassi, you are back with some new music and a brand new album. Tell me about it.
SA: Darling, it’s fabulous. It’s much better than my last album. I’m even in tune on parts of this one. It’s a lot more sexual and way more Sassi.
DB: Well you are certainly sassy. You’ve been doing some live shows recently too. Your outfits appear to be getting more and more revealing. Is there a reason for that?
SA: Have you seen me? I’m hot, that’s why. I’ve got it, so I flaunt it. You should wear something a bit more revealing yourself. Show a bit of cleavage, dear. This album is called Pleasure, so I’m doing all I can to give pleasure. My outfits are part of that.
DB: And you’ve been spreading out into the world of presenting this year too. Is there no end to your talent?
SA: Oh please, I don’t have talent; I am talent. I sing, dance, act, present, and can tie a knot in a cherry stalk with my tongue. I’m very talented.
DB: You’ve said in the past that you are a modern day Madonna. Do you still view yourself in that way?
SA: I have nothing but admiration and respect for Madonna. She has been there, done it, done everyone, got the leotard, and is still going. I felt for her when she had the cloak incident at the Brits. But hey, she got up and kept going. Of course, people are going to compare us. We’re both global superstars, natural blondes and have a new face for each album.
DB: Let’s talk about the changing faces of Sassi Afrika. You’re looking fresh at the moment. What’s your secret?
SA: It’s no secret that I’m a fan of cosmetic procedures. I hook up with my surgeon on a regular basis. He nips, tucks, lifts and injects until I’m looking my best again. Also, a local clinic that does cosmetic procedures have recently offered me 50% off all treatments so I am able to have some top ups through the year. There isn’t much of me that’s not plastic, but I look good. I do know that, darling.
DB: Well all the work you’ve had done has clearly been worth it. You look sensational. Moving on, in your last interview with TheGayUK you spoke about your love of the gays. What is it about gays that you love so much?
SA: Oh gays are a hoot. I see myself as the mother of the gays. They come to me for advice, fashion tips and lip gloss. Also, gays lives are full of drama. I just love that because as you know, I don’t do drama; I am drama. I have to say that the gay community has always been there for me and I will always be there for them. We need to stick together, now more than ever. We are family.
DB: Do you know what Amyl Nitrate is?
SA: Poppers, darling. I use them all the time to loosen up Victoria.
DB: Who’s Victoria?
SA: Oh, it’s my pet name for my pussy.
DB: So you have a cat as well as a dog now?
SA: No babe.
DB: I’ve heard that Baywatch is your favourite television show and with a film version being made, I wondered who you would snog, marry and avoid out of the following: a) David Hasselhoff b) Zac Efron c) Pamela Anderson
SA: Oh god, I’d snog them all. Do I have to pick? Erm… Well, if I must. Ok, I’d snog Pammy. She’s like me; she’s just got it. So I’d snog Pamela Anderson. Or would I marry her? Ok, I’d snog Pamela Anderson and then marry her. I’d do more than snog Zac Efron but put him down for a snog. I guess that means I’d have to avoid The Hoff. Will he be in the new film? I used to love watching him trying to hold his stomach in as he ran along the beach. Gotta love a bit of David Hasselhoff.
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Sassi Afrika is clearly a woman who speaks her mind. You can discover more on Twitter @SassiAfrikaand introduce yourself to her music on Bandcamp.
The statistics about homelessness people are alarming. 25% of homeless and at risk youth in the UK identify as LGBT, a shockingly high proportion. Alexis Gregory has made a verbatim theatre piece looking at the subject. He interviewed a group of young adults who had been at risk or homeless and created a powerful set of interwoven monologues.
CREDIT: Jane Hobson
Alicia started stealing her family’s painkillers to self-medicate against her confusion and worries about her sexuality. Spiralling into a cycle of alcohol addiction she hurtles towards homelessness and hits rock bottom. Jack is confused by his gender, growing up as a boy in a girl’s body, suffering anxiety attacks and verbal abuse from his family who refuse to call him by his correct gender or use the right pronouns. Samuel realises that he’s gay at a young age but his ultra-religious Nigerian parents aren’t sympathetic to his sexuality. When he’s outed by his sister he ends up facing a volley of abuse and barrage of prayers along with plans to send him to Africa to ‘cure’ him. Understandably he flees. Alicia (same name, different character) is rejected by her mother and ends up in children’s homes and foster care. Trapped in the wrong body she works as a rent boy to get cash to get by.
The stories are a mix of pathos, humour and horror. Samuel’s story (told by the talented Michael Fatogun) is laden with wry humour and the vibrant wit of his character comes through. Riley Carter Millington is among the cast and plays Jack. Better known for his portrayal of Kyle Slater in ‘Eastenders’; Riley was the first transgendered actor to play a transgender character in a T.V. soap opera. It’s a strong cast and they’re gifted a beautiful script (or transcript, even). There’s a hint of music with alternating singers at the start of the show (Rudi Douglas did a spine-tingling acapella version of ‘Smalltown Boy’ on the show I saw). There’s also a series of thought provoking 15 minute curated talks each night after the hour-long performance.
The interspersing of the monologues with interactions of other actors playing subsidiary roles stalls the action and reduces the impact a little but it’s otherwise pitch perfect.
Troubling and painful as the stories can be there’s ultimately something redemptive about them too. The Albert Kennedy Trust’s work figures highly in their support of young LGBT people in crisis. This is a performance worth catching. There can’t be many LGBT people out there who don’t find something to identify with here, too. These are exceptional stories in one sense but not in another. These are ‘everyman/woman’ stories that are sure to resonate.
It’s completely normal if after a while the excitement in your sex life dies a little.
They say, don’t they, that the 7-year-inch is real. It’s apparently the time where, if you’re in a long-term relationship you start, maybe, to look around at what you’re missing, while totally forgetting that everything you need is standing right in front of you.
So what can you do to ensure all your cylinders are firing? We spoke to Rachael McCoy, an award winning sex and relationship coach about the simple things that we can do to make sure you’re getting amazing sex, even if you’re 7 years deep into your relationship
So what can you do to ensure all your cylinders are firing? We spoke to Rachael McCoy, an award winning sex and relationship coach about the simple things that we can do to make sure you’re getting amazing sex, even if you’re 7 years deep into your relationship
Turn off your technology
Have at least one night a month where you promise to turn all tech and outside distractions off and just spend time together. In this modern day, we all have tablets, phones and other forms of gadgets that distract us away from quality time together.
Buy a gift
Aim to take it in turns to surprise the other person with a gift or experience that they really enjoy. A great tip on how to do this is to listen when your partner says things they like. Make a note on your phone and when they are least expecting it, spring it on them. They’ll be so grateful that you remembered.
Massage your way to climax
Erotic massage is a great treat that never gets old. When you know your husband/ wife has been having a stressful time, greet them one day after work with some massage oil, a candle lit (warm) room and work your magic to massage their stress away.
Taking the time to cook your partner a nice meal is a lovely gesture as it shows your spending time and energy to do something thoughtful for them. Actually sitting down and eating together (not in front of the TV) is becoming less common these days too so make sure the table is set and you can both talk about your day/ week or life in general.
Roxanne, you don’t have to turn on that red light – ‘cept you should.
Get a red light bulb and swap it with your normal bulb. It completely changes the look and atmosphere in the room, instantly making it feel very seductive and naughty.
Get some friends
Going out with friends may not seem romantic at the time but socialising and ‘representing’ as a couple with friends is a really fun thing to do. In other people’s presence, we tend to be more playful. It will give you lots of things to talk about and it’s something you can both enjoy together.
Some spontaneous oral sex is always a pleasurable treat for a loved one. Catch them when they are nice and clean but not expecting your sexy treat. Make the effort to spend a decent amount of time working their ‘goodies’ with your lips and tongue.
Be sentimental
For an incredibly sentimental gift idea, how about putting together a collage of images. It will be even more romantic if you do it for no apparent reason, just to make them happy. There are plenty of apps that do this now or you could print off your favourite picture memories and cut them to fit nicely in a frame. It proudly shows your declaration of love and will definitely show your partner you care.
Separate
Doing things separately may seem the opposite of romantic but actually it’s a very healthy thing to do in marriages (and relationships in general). As much as you love each other, living in each other’s pockets can become suffocating and predictable. Doing hobbies separately creates desire and interest into the other person, giving you both some great conversation too.
Show gratitude
Remember to show gratitude. In long term relationships it’s easy to forget to say the little things like ‘Thank you’ ‘I love this about you’ or ‘I’m so grateful for’. This mainly happens because we’ve said it so many times before and we just expect the other person to know. But it is imperative that you always remember to tell your husband/ wife these things regularly. It will make all the difference to your marriage and help ensure that it’s a long and happy one.
The Government is to hand pardons to tens of thousands of deceased gay and bisexual men who you were criminally convicted of homosexuality.
Public Domain
The UK Government is to start issuing pardons for gay and bisexual men who were convicted of the crime of homosexuality. The Ministry of Justice said that no individuals cases would be singled out.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK in stages, with the law change in England and Wales in 1967, in Scotland in 1982 and in Northern Ireland in 1982.
Former Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, John Leech, who led the successful campaign to pardon Alan Turing, has today secured an agreement with the Government which will grant a posthumous pardon to tens of thousands of gay and bisexual people convicted under long abolished sexual offence laws.
The decision to accept the amendment has been warmly welcomed by the architect of Alan Turing’s pardon, Cllr. John Leech, who said,
“For years I have campaigned and fought for this moment and I’m completely overwhelmed that this is finally coming to a positive end.
“This is a deeply profound and emotional day for my team and I.”
Those similarly convicted but still alive will also receive pardons if they have successfully applied for a disregard, or in future successfully apply for a disregard under the Protection of Freedoms Act.
The Government will add their name to the Liberal Democrat amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill that when passed will finally grant the long-awaited pardon to over 75,000 people.
This has been a long-fought campaign for John Leech who first raised the issue in the Houses of Parliament and began campaigning in 2011.
Mr Leech submitted several motions to Parliament and campaigned hard to secure the historic pardon, stating that it was “utterly disgusting and ultimately just embarrassing” that the conviction was upheld as long as it was.
In 2013, Alan Turing was given a posthumous royal pardon and an official apology by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, following the high profile campaign led by John Leech.
Following the success of his campaign, Mr Leech turned to securing the pardon for the 75,895 other gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who were unfairly convicted for similar offences.
Alan Turing was a pioneering English computer scientist and mathematician whose groundbreaking work is thought to have brought WWII to an end four years early.
However, at a trial in 1952, Turing admitted to “acts of gross indecency” before being sentenced to chemical castration. His conviction meant he lost his security clearance and was forced to stop work at Bletchley Park.
Aged just 41, he was found dead from cyanide poisoning in 1954 with a half-eaten apple by his side. An inquiry concluded that it was suicide.
It is predicted that Turing’s work saved the lives of an estimated 14 to 21 million.
Mr Leech said Turing’s persecution “by the state for being gay was a scandal that shouldn’t have ever been allowed to stand”.
The first motion Mr Leech submitted called for a recognition of the “vital contribution made by Alan Turing to Britain’s war effort” and “regrets that following his years of national service he received a criminal conviction for having a sexual relationship with another man”.
John Leech concluded: “This is an enormous step forward for LGBTQ+ history and I believe Alan Turing would be truly proud to see tens of thousands of people rightfully vindicated in his name.”
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron MP, added: “The Liberal Democrats continue to be the strongest voice on equality in and out of Parliament.
“This was a manifesto commitment which even in opposition, thanks to the tireless work of John Leech alongside our MPs and peers, we have been able to deliver on.”
★★ | Based on the classic novel by Truman Capote; which was famously immortalised on the big screen by the 1961 film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s tells the story of an unnamed writer’s obsession with his faux-socialite neighbour, Holly Golightly, as she optimistically flirts, romances and blags her way through life via a series of romantic interludes with a number of well to do men.
Photo Credit – Sean Ebsworth Barnes
Based more on the book than on the film, this adaptation by Richard Greenberg has its moments. Firstly, the script, whilst wordy, carries with it an essence of Capote’s work, with rhythmically delivered passages of lengthy text which maintain the feeling of a novella rather than a play. Returning the time frame to the original 1940’s setting, the costumes were both glamorous, and, in the case of Holly Golightly, numerous. The set design was beautifully done, sturdily constructed, versatile and filled with period detail; and the lighting design by Ben Cracknell effectively transported the audience between New York downpours and hazy summer days.
Matt Barber (Downton Abbey) delivers his role as Fred with enthusiasm and an element of innocence as his character falls for his neighbour’s charms; despite the hint of Fred’s closeted homosexuality running through the piece. Georgia May Foote (Coronation Street) is functional and steady as Holly Golightly. Stepping into such an iconic role was always going to be a tough call for any actress and Foote holds her own, never really excelling, but never falling flat either, although she doesn’t quite pull off the charisma and allure of the character entirely.
The difficulty with this production is that is it, sadly, just plain dull. Golightly comes across as a self-absorbed, egocentric and, quite frankly, dislikeable character, which makes you wonder just why anyone would become so infatuated with someone so narcissistic. The play is heavy, slow going and overlong, which lacks any of the whimsical lightness and charm of the film version; and whilst the play is more reliant on the novella than the film, comparisons are unavoidable. The pacing and momentum of the piece is patchy; it is clumsy at times, there are a number of unnecessarily loud and messy scenes filled with a variety of unlikeable characters; and the audience warmed more to the scene stealing cat, Bob, than most of the actors on stage.
For those enamoured with the book, this is a relatively good adaptation, and they will not doubt find much to enjoy within this production, which is a grittier and darker adaptation in keeping with Capote’s writing. For those who are smitten with the film, and despite the publicity shots for the play which are tantalisingly reminiscent of the iconic imagery associated with the movie, there is likely to be some disappointment.
