THEGAYUK

Day: 15 March 2020

  • Why I undressed for Elska Magazine

    Why I undressed for Elska Magazine

    Multiple factors can contribute to the development of the body image, but the biggest influence seems to come from the advertising industry, which unapologetically creates the need on the consumer to look like the ideal men or women portrayed in the media. Smoothing skin, erasing wrinkles, enlarging muscles, slimming waists… All this has become the norm in advertising. These images don’t reflect reality. This is just a convenient strategy designed to sell a product. Yet, from a younger and younger age, people are aspiring to these biologically impossible ideals. And I was no exception! Looking at these distortions of reality, I felt ugly and had the same desire as everybody else to look just as perfect as these models. But I eventually realized that this way of thinking can lead to serious body image problems. People who are unhappy about their bodies can develop eating disorders, turn to diet pills or steroids, or try cosmetic surgery and Botox injections. And I fear that, until the public responds more favourably to images of real people with real bodies, very little is going to change. This is why I decided to stand up and share my belief that everyone has the right, whatever their size or shape, to feel happy about their looks. I defend that a diversity of body shapes and sizes needs to be included in magazines, advertising and on the catwalk URGENTLY!

    A while ago, I discovered Elska Magazine. Created by Liam Campbell, Elska is a bi-monthly male photography publication, whose first edition was released in September 2015.

    Its name means “love” in Icelandic.

    One of the main aspects which differentiate Elska from other (gay) photography-related publications is that it does not feature perfect models, but instead focuses on real people with their “imperfections,” presenting real-life people and their stories, and providing a glimpse at queer men and community around the globe. Each issue is shot in a different city. When I saw an ad looking for real people to model for the Amsterdam issue, I knew immediately that this was an initiative I needed to support. And this why, with no shame or fears, I undressed and posed for Elska. I might not have the perfect body (at least according to the advertising industry), but this is me, I am real, and I learned to love myself and to feel comfortable in my own body. And now I am sharing it with you!

    Elska Amsterdam, the latest issue of Elska magazine, is out now and includes a nice selection of ordinary gay locals and their stories. Sadly, my photos didn’t make the cut for the main magazine, but they are featured in Elska Ekstra, Elska’s companion magazine with behind the scenes tales, outtakes, extra stories, and extra boys. Enjoy it!

    As a famous drag queen would say: “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?”

    SEE THE PICTURES

    Pages: 1 2

  • CAR REVIEW |Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Plus

    CAR REVIEW |Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Plus

    Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Plus | The Versatile Rapid Tourer

    Everyone is going hybrid these days and Volvo are no exception to this. The Swedes have been looking at ways of propulsion and with the help of sister company, Polestar, there is pretty much a T8 twin-engined model in every sector Volvo have entered. We look at the V for versatile V90 estate with the T8 setup.

    Let’s get my issue out of the way first. This model is Volvo’s largest of the ground-hugging saloon and estate cars and comes in R-Design. For a Luxo-barge, I had my reservations of the R-Design. It’s not a bad model in the range, but does this ‘sporty’ model get ruined by being made to feel dynamic for reasons that we Brits like it and more importantly, will I like it?

    The V90 comes with just 5 power sources across the range and the T8, with its 87hp electric motors powering the rear wheels is the most powerful out of them all. It’s available across the range except in the Cross-Country models. Those use a full 4WD system for obvious reasons. 

    The petrol unit powering the T8 is a 303hp petrol 4 cylinder. Combined with motor assistance on the rear wheels it will project the Volvo estate from 0-60 in just 5.0 seconds. In practice, it feels a touch more lethargic than that though this can perhaps be attributed to the beautiful way the car can glide away from a standstill without much noise at all. The electric motors go some way to eliminate the throttle lag of the petrol engine. It’s still a little hesitant but just enough to be worthy of a mention. 

    And 5.3 seconds 0-60mph isn’t to be scoffed at. Until recently it was the time set by the superstars like Lamborghini. Imagine the fun of being able to blow away a Countach with your 1,526-litre load-lugger with more space than a double bed in the rear. Admittedly you wouldn’t. You’d want to hear the sound of that Lamborghini V12 pull away.

    And here is the key to the V90 T8. Serenity. So perhaps it might come as a surprise that even in R-Design, the UK’s market leader in the range with dynamic feel, has this ability in almost any drive mode you select to isolate you from the harshness of what a 15mm lowered suspension set up could bring. From a spec sheet at least, it all seems superficial except for the said lowered sports suspension and 18-inch alloy rims.

    Inside is typical Scandinavian elegance. Ergonomic cockpit set up for driving pleasure and ease of use. The infotainment system allows for multiple changes and adaptions to suit you the driver and not the R&D departments preferences. And this allows you to set the car up to become more of how you want it and it’s A) surprising how specific we all are when given the chance and B) why more don’t offer this. This is your car after all. There ends up being very little to annoy and dare I say it, as a motoring journalist, not much to say any more about the insides of Volvo’s.  

    Driving is a pleasure and getting the best from the twin-engined set up is ease itself. The use of “twin-engine” is perhaps a little misleading when there is in-fact only one engine up front and two small electric motors at the back. By this calculation alone it should then perhaps be called a tri-engine. Anyway, I digress because the art of the system is beautiful. 

    Now 21 miles on the battery might not seem much distance at all but it’s more than you think. A drive home from visiting my father in Bognor saw me empty the battery packs by the time I arrived in Storrington. That was 22.1 miles of non-sympathetic motoring. The V90 T8 had the ability to carry itself quite rapidly at legal speeds on battery power down the A27. Not necessarily designed for rapid motoring over a distance like this, the batteries side of things did very well. And it’s this ability to have full use of the electric motors that makes it such an easy system to use. I do however struggle with its lack of ability to charge the batteries adequately when on the move unless you select it too. It’s sort of self-charging but by-passes the ability to use the hybrid system. 

    That said, I did calculate my fuel economy with the XC90 T8 being most favourable. With my daily commute now being just under 10 miles each way with the return drive home mostly being downhill (I’m not making that up), I could go for years without actually using petrol. But that really is exceptional usage.

    The Volvo V90 T8 is quite the Q-car then in terms of looks over function over ability. It carries stuff, lots of stuff. Cossets occupants in tranquillity and yet is as far removed from what you’d expect a Volvo estate to behave like. Forget the mind-blowing 850 T5R from the 90’s and their wake up call to the world as to what Volvo could do. That’s power dressed and old news. The V90 T8 is the future. For the moment at least.  

    Love

    Ease of use of the hybrid system

    Intelligent interior

    Serenity

    Loathe

    Unable to self charge adequately unless selected

    Aggressive pilot assist

    Some throttle lag from standstill

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Volvo V90 T8 Twin Engine AWD R-Design Plus

    Price – £ 67,500 (as tested)

    MPG – 97.4 – 117.7 mpg (WLTP combined)

    Power – 317hp (petrol) + 87hp (electric)

    0-62mph –  5.0 seconds

    Top Speed –  115 mph

    Co2 –  49 (g/km)

  • We rated the best ballads from each of Mariah Carey’s albums

    We rated the best ballads from each of Mariah Carey’s albums

    Don’t hate… but

    Debut

    “Vanishing”

    This stripped-back piano-led ballad is probably one of the purest ballads of all time. It perfectly showcases Mariah’s vocal quality – and one epic vocal run (that sounds like the prettiest car alarm in the world) towards the end.

    Emotions

    “Can’t Let Go”

    After a string of number 1s in the US, “Can’t Let You” didn’t manage to reach the coveted top spot – which we think is a travesty. Plus the accompanying music video is one classy affair.

    MTV Unplugged

    “If It’s Over”

    Originally from the album Emotions, it marries MC’s songwriting with Carole King’s. Strong. Strong. Strong.

    Musicbox

    “Anytime You Need A Friend”

    This song is pure power and quite different from anything Mariah had released up to that point. Its dark chord structure in the verse opens up to one glorious chorus, filled with a gospel vibe that truly inspires – and don’t get us started on that whistle note at the end of the song. The whole Musicbox album is the ultimate MC balladfest, it has so many good options.

    Merry Christmas

    “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)”

    When Mariah stips it all back we get to hear the jewel that is early Mariah’s bell-like soprano range. This song is the perfect opposite to the campery fun that is Mariah’s all-time greatest (or best-selling anyway) hit, “All I Want For Christmas (Is You)”.

    Daydream

    “Looking In”

    I love songs like these from MC. We really get to understand her story as an artist. “Looking In” feels deeply personal and from a songwriter’s perspective can feel very exposing but ultimately freeing.

    Butterfly

    “Butterfly”

    This is pretty much a standard Mariah ballad, but the lyrics are just so powerful and on the first album of Mariah’s to be pretty thin of ballads this is the obvious choice, following by “My All”.

    Rainbow

    “After Tonight”

    There are a couple of great ballads on this album – and you may be surprised that I didn’t choose “Can’t Take That Away” but the vocals in “After Tonight” are actually next level when you listen to them. Unfortunately the album’s other ballads like “Against All Odds” and “Thank God I Found You” (don’t hate) sounded just dialled in, I’m not a fan. Don’t get me started on the duet version of “Against All Odds”.

    Glitter

    “Lead The Way”

    Back in the very early 2000s, when most of the world had seemingly written Mariah off, there’s the gem of an album the Glitter soundtrack. “Lead The Way” is just beautiful. The album showcased a newer style of singing for the diva – as she started to use her breathier lower register to great effect – allowing her to let rip towards the end of songs – giving a greater contrast to her performances.

    Charmbracelet

    “I Only Wanted”

    Maybe an “After Tonight” part 2, but MC’s vocals are on point in this song and she does the Spanish guitar sound so well. This gets the top spot on from this album, because the chorus is so strong. I would have gone with “Through The Rain” but the use of Mariah’s softer, breathier vocal style gets tiresome. It’s not until the last chorus that she really opens up and lets fly – which is a shame.

    TEOM

    “We Belong Together”

    This album is very thin on the typical Mariah ballad, so the only choice is either “We Belong Together” or “Mine Again” luckily WBT is an epic song – particularly when she goes up the octave towards the end of the song.

    EMC2

    “I Wish You Well”

    Back to the piano-driven ballad, Mariah lets her stunning vocals shine.

    MOAIA

    “I Want To Know What Love Is”

    Mariah isn’t really known for her covers (why would she, as she’s probably the most accomplished song-writer in the world) but when she does one it gets noticed (remember “Without You”). “I Want To Know What Love Is” is, dare I say better than the original. And totally uplifting, you just don’t want it to end – and well in Brazil, it nearly didn’t! It was number 1 for an incredible 27 weeks.

    Merry Christmas II You

    “O Come All Ye Faithful”

    I have to say, I’m not a fan of this album, when compared to her 1994 release, it feels a little underwhelming, but getting a duet with her Mumma is pure excellence!

    Me. I Am Mariah The Elusive Chanteuse

    “Cry”

    Unfortunately, the traditional MC ballad has all but disappeared for this album, aside from the cover of George Michael’s “One More Try”, which I never thought was a great song from GM. To note, this is one of Mariah’s worst-selling album so far. The album peaked at number 14 on the UK Albums Chart, selling just 6,547 copies in its first week.

    Caution

    “Portrait”

    This song feels like a late-90s end-of-album Mariah ballad and that’s a lovely thing. On the whole, the album Caution album is underrated and under-selling. It really deserved to do better.

    So how did we do? What are your favourite MC ballads? Use the comments below to let us know.

  • PrEP is now available across England for those who need it

    PrEP is now available across England for those who need it

    It’s taken a long time and a trial that limited the number of people who could access the revolutionary drug that halts the spread of HIV, but PrEP is finally available to those who need it in England.

    The PrEP trial originally allowed for 10,000 patients to take PrEP, it was extended to 26,000, but it still wasn’t enough meaning that there were long waiting lists and some clinics paused the trial for gay and bisexual men.

    In August 2019 we reported that up to a quarter of gay and bisexual men were unable to access the HIV prevention drug.

    The Department of Health will be providing funds to make PrEP available via sexual health clinics. The Government will make £16m available to local authorities to deliver PrEP to those “who need it most” according to a statement released by DoH.

    Matt Hancock, the UK’s Health Secretary said,

    “I remember when HIV was a death sentence – and still today, it has a devastating impact on so many lives across the country.

    While it is encouraging to see HIV transmissions continue to fall across the UK, I am determined to do more, and end HIV transmission.

    So we are rolling out PrEP and making it available across the country – with evidence showing it almost completely eradicates the chances of getting HIV. This will benefit tens of thousands of people’s lives, and drive us towards our ambition of zero HIV transmissions in this decade”.

    [totalpoll id=”112650″]

    Speaking about the announcement, Ian Green, the Chief Executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s biggest HIV charity, said that it was an “important day” and that it came “after years of fighting, campaigning and lobbying to secure a guarantee of proper access to this game-changer for HIV prevention in England”.

    He continued, “We know PrEP is highly effective at stopping HIV and now it can be properly utilised to make good on the Government’s commitment to ending HIV transmissions by 2030”.

    PrEP comes in the form of a single pill to be taken as prescribed by a doctor.

    Green added,

    “We understand that COVID-19 is putting pressure on all parts of our health service. However, despite today’s announcement, we are facing an imminent and unacceptable gap on PrEP access in England. We know of instances where people waiting for PrEP have contracted HIV, which unacceptable and cannot continue. Immediate work needs to take place with clinics which are currently at capacity for gay and bisexual men and a timetable must be set out for when uncapped access will be made available across all parts of England.

    “Like everything that’s been achieved since the start of the HIV epidemic this commitment on uncapped PrEP access has been hard fought for. We would like to pay tribute to everyone who has raised a placard, written to their MP, campaigned on social media and helped to move us to where we are today. It’s amazing what can be achieved by HIV organisations and activists working together.

    ’Today’s announcement also underlines the urgency for the Government to release details for local authority public health budget for the delivery of vital sexual health services from April – which is now a matter of weeks away. These sexual health services will be the bedrock for fair and equitable access to PrEP.”

    There must be a ‘seamless transition from trial to full provision’

    On the challenges ahead, Green added,

    ‘This isn’t the end of what’s already been a very bumpy road and we will continue to strongly hold the Government to account on its promises and timetable to ensure consistency of access for PrEP users. That’s because there must be a seamless transition from the trial and no gap in PrEP provision for those who are accessing it.

    ‘There is also a lot of work to do to ensure PrEP isn’t just seen as something for gay and bisexual men and that its clear benefits reach other groups affected by HIV, including women, trans people and BAME communities. As the country’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, we’re fully committed to playing our role to ensure no-one is left behind when it comes to PrEP because we’re not making real progress if it’s not felt by everyone.’