THEGAYUK

Day: 27 July 2017

  • FILM REVIEW | The Big Sick

    The Big Sick | ★★★★

    An unusual romance blossoms between a Muslim comedian and a white American woman in the new light-hearted comedy The Big Sick.

    The not funny title is completely intentional because halfway through the film Emily (Zoe Kazan) gets really sick and falls into a coma. But before this, we see the beginnings of a romance (and the breakup) between her and aspiring comedian Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani). Even though they come from two totally different backgrounds, they fall head over heels with each other after Zoe heckles him at one of his shows. But it’s when Zoe is diagnosed with a mystery illness, and after they break up, that Kumail decides that he really wants to be with Zoe, but he’s got to share her hospital room with her parents (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano, who are both excellent). Meeting her parents for the first time in the hospital tests him and his love for Zoe, but it’s also her parents who have to do some soul searching themselves because they are not quite yet able to accept a Muslim man as their only daughter’s boyfriend. And to make matters worse for Kumail, his family insists he marry a Muslim girl with his mom constantly inviting single Muslim women over for dinner and tells Kumail that ’they happen to be in the neighbourhood.’ Kumail has lots of dilemmas in his life.

    The Big Sick is the true life story of Kumail and his real life wife (Emily V. Gordon), who had become very sick when they were dating, and this is where the story of this film comes from (they co-wrote the script together). Directed by Michael Shwalter, The Big Sick is a very funny and light hearted comedy that will tug at your heartstrings. And it’s Nanjiani (from television’s Silicon Valley) who lays his heart out and lets us in on his real life relationship that has now been turned into a very good romantic comedy.

    Available to order from iTunes and Amazon

  • People share what being gay means to them

    To mark the 50 years of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK, we asked readers what it means to be gay to them. Here are some of their answers.

     

    Everything. and it’s very strange because I never used to consider it an important part of my identity. (Jake, London)

    Freedom and independence, but an ‘edited life’. I come from a wealthy upper middle-class background and came out when I was 18. The deal I reached with my parents was to be gay in London and not talk about it at home or with family. Being gay is not part of the values and culture of our family, friends or community in the countryside. It’s joked about, but only a few are down right discriminatory. So I am free and independent in London and lead an edited life where work, family, and friends back home are unaware. (William, Wiltshire, England)

    It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. That I could wake up every day knowing that I didn’t have to hide who I was, that I could breathe freely without worrying who knows my secret. But I always think being gay isn’t the thing that defines me, being gay is one of the many parts of me. (Matty, Manchester, England)

    To me ‘gay’ is a lifestyle, bars clubs, steam baths etc, I prefer the term ‘ men who has sex with men’ i.e. conventional in every way other than who I prefer to f*ck. (iphotoguys, Brighton, England)

    Being gay for me is about freedom. The right to choose my own life and how I live it. It’s about being confident in who I am and not being afraid to show. No matter the opinions of other people, always having the confidence in myself to live the life I want and deserve. (Aaron, Preston, England)

    Honesty. Genuine honesty. It also feels the most natural thing in the world. (Peter, Winchester, England)

    I’m finally the true complete person I was meant to be. I’m still Dad, Son, Brother, to my amazing family and they are simply happy because I am happy. (Graham, Dudley, England)

    5 years ago, being gay meant having to admit that’s I am different to all of my friends and my family. It meant that I had to stand out from the crowd when I had tried so hard to fit in before. It meant putting a target on my back at school and everywhere else I went. 4 years ago, being gay meant meeting a completely new group of friends, friends that I could be myself with and friends I knew I would have for life. It meant that I could sneak into clubs I was too young for and it meant exploring my sexuality. 3 years ago, being gay meant travelling the country to experience different “scenes” and finding my favourite places in the world. Being gay meant partying all day, every day with no excuses, regrets or apologies. 2 years ago, being gay meant reconnecting with an old friend who had newly come out. It meant meeting more new friends that I knew I would have for life, just like my school friends. Being gay opened me up to a world where there was no judgement only fun and funny times. Last year, being gay meant that I met the man of my dreams. It meant finding the one person who would love me for who I am and who I will grow into becoming. It meant changing everything I ever thought I knew about myself and finding new parts of myself I didn’t know were in me. This year, being gay has meant being part of a community that marches against people who refuse to accept the fact that we should be free to love who we love, however we choose to love them. This year being gay meant protesting for the Chechen LGBT community in my first ever protest. Being gay to me means having pride in who you are and not apologising for any second of it. (Leon, Birmingham, England)

    It means my fabulous children, twins, a boy and girl. They are in their 50’s now. They have provided a treasure chest of unforgettable experiences, specifically because they’re gay. So special ❤️❤️  (Simply Sharon, Louisiana, USA)

    That I can love all kinds of people but when I make love I do so without shame or reservation knowing that it is with a person based on mutual attraction, not social convention. (Philip, South-west England)

    It’s part of who I am and makes me who I am, I’m proud that I’m gay and I’d happily help the LGBTQ+ community to feel just as proud as I do. It makes sure me different in a world of sheep. (Bella, Bristol, England)

    Being yourself and for all people to accept who you are. (Ian Smith, UK)

    It made me more aware of what is happening in the world. I also learned to say NO because I got into learning what is allowed and what is an act against my rights. And I also love to turn some people off by showing them that their insults don’t get to me because I’m gay and proud. (Lukáš, The Czech Republic)

    Being myself and not living in fear of it. (Garry, England)

    Not only about sexual attraction. It’s being emotionally involved with a same sex person. (Erwan, France)

    Freedom, liberation, fearlessness, individuality. (M, London, England)

    Happiness. (Rajiv, Mumbai, India)

    Way of life. (Steven, Glasgow, Scotland)

    Being attracted to men. No more, no less. (Sam, UK)

    It means being who I am. Being able to live my life with out fear, and able to love my partner freely and together sharing our lives. (David, England)

    Being gay represents part of who I am. It also allows me to see the world from a different perspective and analyse issues in another way. (Sean, Peterborough, England)

    If I wasn’t gay I would never have met my wonderful husband. (Peter, Glasgow, Scotland)

    I hid my sexuality till I was 26 yrs old, I grew up in a military family so when my father found out he left a nasty and heartbreaking letter for me, which I still have to this day at 48yrs, my mother was so loving, but now,22 yrs later my father is amazing. He has accepted it, he has met my partner, even gets angry as to why we can’t get married in this country.  (Wayne, Sydney, Australia)

    I don’t know what it’s like to be Straight. As long as I can remember I have not known anything else. Although I have had relationships with Women. It never felt right. And now been with my lovely Husband for 18 years.❤️ (Richard, Birmingham, England)

    I am gay and thankful for all those who have gone before to make my life a good one with rights and privilege that I enjoy as a gay man based in the UK. (Elijah, Swansea, Wales)

    Came out five years ago after much denial, found my first boyfriend and never looked back. (Neil, Thurso, Scotland)

    Everything. (Daniel, Sydney, Australia)

    Happiness. (Paul, London, England)

  • There’s a sex practice that’s becoming popular with men – and its dangerous

    If you don’t want to cause permanent damage to your penis you might want to read on.

    If you’ve never heard of sounding – basically it where you stick a metal or glass rod down the opening of the penis into the urethra. However, doctors have warned that the practice of sounding could cause irreparable damage to the penis.

    Doctors at International Andrology, a central London clinic focusing exclusively on male urogenital health have seen a dramatic increase in the number of men presenting with urethral issues and infections in line with the rise in this sexual practice.

    The urethra sometimes referred to as the water-pipe, is the tube running along the penis, through which urine and sperm pass. A stricture, described as ‘a kink in a hose’, develops when the urethra is damaged leading to severe urination problems, pain and recurrent infections. It’s a dilapidating condition, that usually requires surgical intervention.

    Incontinence issues and reduced bladder control

    “Sounding” can also lead to incontinence since loosening or damaging of the urethra can result in reduced bladder control.

    “Urethral strictures are more common in older men, especially after the insertion of a catheter following prostate surgery, however, we have been seeing an increased number of younger patients suffering from strictures, which we attribute to the popularity of practices like sounding,” Mr Giulio Garaffa, a surgeon at International Andrology London comments.

    “Men should be really careful with such practices – only a few urologists have experience treating urethral strictures and in some cases, multiple operations might be required to fix the problem,” Mr Garaffa warns.

    Men interested in this activity should first understand the issues with introducing objects into the urethral and embrace clean practices such as cleaning items regularly and using lubrications specially designed for sensitive areas.

  • Honey G just came out

    The former X Factor star Honey G has come out and she’s looking for love.

    One of X Factor‘s most controversial acts, Honey G, has come out in an interview with The Sun, revealing her perfect woman is Queen Latifah.

    Honey G, real name Anna Gilford has told The Sun‘s Dan Wooton that she has decided to come out and reveal that she wants to be with women. In a candid interview, she said,

    “I was in the process of kind of deciding if I was going to stay with the boyfriend that I had at the time.

    “I was DJing in Ayia Napa and I met someone out there and that was the turning point.

    “I didn’t have real girlfriends until I finished university.”

    The star also revealed that she hopes to find a woman to settle down with and start a family saying that she has wanted kids since she was 19-year-old.

    She said,

    “I have dabbled with men before, but I’m gay and looking for a female partner that I want to settle down with,”

     

  • What is the launch date of Celebrity Big Brother and what Celebrities are going in?

    The new series of Celebrity Big Brother has been announced but when does it start and what Channel will it be on?

    What is the launch date of Celebrity Big Brother and what Celebrities are going in?

    After a quick repaint and redesign, the Celebrity Big Brother house will be open for business on the 1st August at 9 PM Channel 5. Emma Willis will be hosting the show and welcoming a brand new batch of celebrities to Britain’s most famous house.

    Who has been rumoured for the Celebrity Big Brother house 2017?

    Names, names names…

    So many people have been rumoured to be going into Celebrity Big Brother – but of course the reveal won’t happen until the night of the launch – as Big Brother execs keep tight-lipped about who they are casting for the 20th season of the show.

    Shaun Williamson, the ex-EastEnder who starred in the BBC show from 1994 until 2004 as the hapless and unlucky in love Barry Evans.

    Shobna Gulati. another soap actor, who played Sunita in Coronation Street until 2012

    Ex- girl bander, Sarah Harding – the party girl who sang along side Cheryl in Girls Aloud is rumoured to be amongst the stars lining up to enter the CBB house.

    Orginal Love Islander Paul Dunan could be providing some antics. He’s famous for being thrown off the island in 2005.

    Helen Lederer, her of the Ab Fab chairs – is expected to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house!

    Derek Acorah, a TV psychic was announced to be entering by The Sun.

    Lauren Harries – the star appeared on the show in 2013, last year she told us her time was coming to re-enter – will 2017 be her year?

    Kellie Maloney – the former boxing boss turned trans advocate Kellie starred in the 2014 season following her coming out as a trans woman.

     

    Will Sinitta be going into the Big Brother house?

    No, apparently her demands are too high.

     

  • How did Vince Cable vote on gay rights issues?

    The new leader of the Liberal Democrats has been announced as Sir Vince Cable after no challengers stepped forward. So how gay-friendly is the new leader of the Lib Dems?

    How did Vince Cable vote on gay rights issues?

    Votes on gay rights issues?

    Generally speaking, Sir Vince Cable has voted positively on all laws that affect the LGBT+ community in the UK. He has a good history when it comes to his pro-gay rights voting history and has always voted in the positive – including reducing the age of consent and on the repeal of Section 28. He has never negatively voted on an LGBT+ rights issue.

    Does Vince Cable have hang ups about gay sex like Tim Farron did?

    It doesn’t seem that he does. He voted positively on reducing the age of consent for homosexual sex. He also voted on repealing the prohibitive Section 28. He also voted positively on allowing same-sex marriages and civil partnerships.

    Has Vince Cable ever voted against gay rights?

    According to TheyWorkForYou.com Vince Cable has never voted against LGBT+ rights, however, he has been absent from a number “less important votes. This means that he was present for all the big votes like the age of consent, the repeal of Section 28, Civil Partnerships and Same-sex marriage. He was absent for the following votes:

    1. On 10 Feb 1999: Vincent Cable was absent for a vote on Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill — Clause 1 — Age of Consent for Homosexual Acts Show vote
    2. On 1 Mar 1999: Vincent Cable was absent for a vote on Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill — Third Reading Show vote
    3. On 10 Feb 2000: Vincent Cable was absent for a vote on Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill Show vote
    4. On 9 Nov 2004: Vincent Cable was absent for a vote on Categories of civil partners other than same sex couples Show vote
    5. On 9 Nov 2004: Vincent Cable was absent for a vote on Civil Partnerships Bill [Lords] — Third Reading
    6. On 20 May 2008: Vincent Cable was absent for a vote on Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill — Fertility treatment requires father and mother — rejected Show vote
    7. On 20 May 2008: Vincent Cable was absent for a vote on Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill — Fertility treatment requires male role model — rejected
    8. On 5 Feb 2013: incent Cable was absent for a vote on Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill — (Carry-over)
    9. On 5 Mar 2014: Vincent Cable was absent for a vote on Amendments to Acts of Parliament in Light of the Introduction of Same Sex Marriage in Parts of the UK

    Keeping Sir Vince on Track on LGBT+ issues

    Speaking to THEGAYUK the LGBT+ Lib Dem group said that Sir Vince would keep the Liberal Democrats at the “forefront of LGBT+ equality”. They also said they would work with him to work on PrEP availability, transgender rights and the situation in Chechnya.