THEGAYUK

Author: Jake Hook

  • BOOK REVIEW | Hombres by Joan Crisol

    ★★★★ Publishers of distinction – Bruno Gmünder, releases Joan Crisol’s rather wonderful Hombres.

    Described as the look book for Spanish fashion brand ES, photographer Joan Crisol has managed to capture some incredible photos. It makes for a perfect Coffee Table book or dare we say early Christmas present for the man admirer in your life – or just you!

    81 full colour pages of more muscle perfect men in various states of undress, than you could shake a stick at.

    Absolutely recommended coffee table reading.

  • INTERVIEW | Laverne Cox

    INTERVIEW | Laverne Cox

    ‘Hello, New York calling!’ We’ve just been put through to one of our favourite women on television right now and I’m just bursting with questions. The dazzling Laverne Cox who plays in-prisoned hairdresser Sophia Burset in the hit Netflix series Orange Is The New Black is on the phone.

    Asking how she felt to be the object of everyones desires, through much laughter I’m informed in her delicate Southern Belle accent ‘Well, I’m still single’.

    Yet behind the laughter is a deeper message where the reality of her situation was quickly offered.

    ‘I just did the Thomas Roberts Show this morning and I said, I’m not supposed to be here. Black trans women from a working class background in America aren’t supposed to be promoting hit TV shows on national television.’

    In an industry which has become strongly focused on ticking boxes it would seem that Laverne ticks a lot and yet Laverne is far from a ticked box.

    ‘I didn’t have any expectations. I hoped that people would like the show [Orange Is The New Black]. I was like, ok, Netflix have a lot of folks. A lot of people will see this show and it may lead to some more acting work.

    ‘I loved the part and was thinking this is great, people can get to see what I can do as an actress.’

    Laverne Cox hails from Mobile Alabama, deep in the Bible belt of the United States, lodged between Georgia and Mississippi. Her first television appearance was on Law & Order in 2008, but it wasn’t until 2010 that Laverne’s true television credentials would be proved, when she became the first African American transgender woman to produce and star in her own TV show TRANSform Me on VH1

    Laverne’s current project Orange Is The Next Black is fast becoming a landmark show for Netflix, I asked why Laverne thought the show had been so popular?

    ‘There are stories we don’t get to hear a lot in our culture. We don’t hear from women who are incarcerated, especially diverse women of colour.

    ‘In America we have 5% of the world’s population and a large proportion of it are in prison. It represents what’s wrong with our culture.

    ‘Most of the time it’s because the system has failed them as people, they are not humanised.

    ‘We’re not programmed to think of them as human beings and our show makes these women profoundly human.’

    Laverne is one of the most regarded if not the most visible activist for the transgender community, which being a famous face must bring about a lot of extra pressures.

    ‘I would love to just have one day without having to talk about transgender but the reality is that so many trans people are impaled in their lives. Such as that story in Jamaica about the trans kid Dwayne Jones who was brutally murdered’

    ‘I would love to not talk about it, but the problem is people aren’t talking about trans issues, about transphobia so somebody’s got to talk about it and that talk has to lead to action.’

    n action group here at home Trans Media Watch were also keen to put a question to Laverne asking what her perception was on how trans people are represented on TV and if she thinks it is starting to change.

    ‘The reality is we don’t get enough trans people on television, enough transgender stories told and so I think we have a long way to go before we have more of those representatives like Sophia, but I would like to think we are moving in the right direction.’

    I wondered how the transgender community has reacted to Laverne since she’s become so much more visible now,

    ‘There has been a lot of love and support, the biggest was when trans kids write to say that I’ve inspired them to go for their dreams.’

    I asked if there were any role models in her life,

    ‘My idol was Leontyne Price the African-American opera singer who was the first international black opera sensation and she’s a huge inspiration for me.’

    As September is our Coming Out month we wondered if coming out was little by little for Laverne or a big blaze of glory?

    ‘It’s weird the words coming out. The only person I ever came out to was my mother. I thought I was gay and joined an LGBT organisation on campus in university.

    ‘I then realised I was trans. The interesting thing for trans people that’s different for gays or lesbians, who often have to come out to different people in many parts of their lives, I don’t have to as people generally know or suspect and if not they google me.

    ‘As a trans women it was a really slow process and was really about accepting myself, starting my medical transition and then changing my name.

    ‘It was all very gradual and all very much about accepting myself.’

    Not everyone in this world is switched on to the many differences in life so I wondered how Laverne coped when people realised she was trans. Did she see the change in their eyes or the thoughts of what should or shouldn’t I ask?

    ‘For most part if people are gonna have a problem with me that’s pretty obvious because they’re going to steer clear of me. Which is the best thing about being out and proud.

    ‘I don’t draw bad energy to me. When I’m myself then people are cool with me.’

    I asked whether it was easy to come or to accept the realisation that you’re transgender, Laverne has a very simple formula;

    ‘It depends where you live, how much money you have, on race, your support networks’.

    Although we had focused on a lot of serious questions I had just one more to ask. In Orange is the new Black, Sophia had amazing hair in prison. Does she think she’d keep up the look if she was locked up?

    ‘Oh God, I don’t think I’d personally care that much’ she laughed.

    So what would be the worse fear about going to prison?

    ‘All of it’ was the quick answer. ‘Often trans people don’t end up in women’s prisons so that leads us to become targets of sexual violence, so I would be terrified of that’.

    It seems even the light hearted questions have this harsh reality of real life behind them and the work style to be done for trans recognition.

    I couldn’t leave it there. If you could smuggle one thing into prison and be allowed to keep it, what would you take. ‘Moisturiser’

    We both started laughing.

    If you want to read more about Trans issues or are looking for support then do check out:http://www.transmediawatch.org

  • INTERVIEW | English Gay Youth Twice As Likely To Smoke and Drink

    With the news today published by BMJ that gay youth in England are twice as likely to smoke and drink more hazardously than their heterosexual peers we speak with one of the authors of the study by UCL, Dr. Joanna Semlyen.

    TGUK: Why in your opinion LGBs are more likely to smoke firstly – and secondly, perhaps more worryingly more likely to drink and to hazardous levels?

    DJS: There are several reasons why LGB young people may be more likely to smoke tobacco and drink alcohol hazardously and we do not, as yet, due to lack of research, have definitive evidence as to what the reasons are, however, we suspect that the impact of homophobia and heterosexism within society, in addition to the possible experience of homophobic bullying whilst at school, may lead to what we call ‘minority stress’ or in increased low self esteem which young people then perhaps seek to alleviate with smoking and/or alcohol. We also know that LGB people tend to socialise in the places where they can be with each other, which is almost always places where alcohol and cigarettes are freely available, like bars and clubs.

    This situation may be being exacerbated by a growing concern that LGB people are targeted, for example, by the tobacco industry. There may also be other reasons we do not know and a large longitudinal study (with a heterosexual control group and repeated follow-ups) might allow us to study the antecedents of smoking and drinking in young LGB people.

    TGUK: Do you think this might be linked with the fact that LGBTs are more likely to suffer from mental health issues?

    DS: Because no data on transgender identity was collected in this study, I can only comment on LGB participants in this study. I think that the experience of homophobia and heterosexism should not be underestimated and, along with the stress of coming out (often repeatedly throughout one’s life), may well account for why we see greater incidence of mental health issues in LGB people. The problem is, we don’t have any data yet on the causes of smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking in LGB young people, followed repeatedly over time.

    TGUK: Do you think the government or the health service is doing enough to interface with young LGBTs?

    DS: As a researcher and LGBT Health Psychologist, I would like to see the routine collection of sexual orientation data within population based health and well-being studies and as part of the NHS’ own routine identity data collection.

    This would allow us to accurately determine the health inequalities being experienced by this group and, by virtue of being included, would go a long way to indicate to LGBT people that their health is being considered. LGB people want to be counted in surveys. Indeed we noted the question in this study had a very low refusal rate.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Naked Boys Reading

    ★★★★ | Naked Boys Reading

    If you happen to be in Hackney or even if you’re not, we cant recommend Naked Boys Reading at Vogue Fabrics enough…

    In a dark, overcrowded, underground steamy room in North London something quite spectacular is happening. Fortnightly, certain men are getting naked, very naked – and not in a dark, overcrowded, underground steamy kind of way. No there are no glory holes here, but literature, glorious literature delivered in an unusual way, naked.

    Now naked reading is usually reserved for the bedroom, under the covers and there isn’t normally an audience; but the team at Vogue Fabrics have cottoned on to a winner here.

    Naked men. Reading. What’s not to like, and although the shabby, non-descript entrance to Vogue Fabrics might seem daunting, once you’ve got one of their bargain beers (there’s no choice of brand here, just glorious cans of beer) down your gullet and your eyes have adjusted to the light, you begin to realise that you are in fact, somewhere very special.

    It’s like stumbling on the hottest ticket in town, where just you and this room of eagerly expectant patrons are waiting, with baited breath for nakedness – and the show doesn’t disappoint.

    And you certainly get an eyeful.

    With the front row literally in cupping distance, you are close to the action.

    Some of the readings are a bit hit or miss, but the overall experience is just exciting. A complete hit and judging by the smiling blushing faces, emerging, squinting into the early evening sunset onto the busy, bustling, cosmopolitan streets of Stoky you know they’ve had more than an eyeful.

    With Sharon Husbands your inimitable host, with lines to crack even the sternest of faces, Naked Boys Reading is our absolute must.

  • INTERVIEW | Andrew Trott-Barn

    INTERVIEW | Andrew Trott-Barn

    What the world needs now is makeovers, sweet makeovers – ITV’s Daybreak teams Jane McDonald, she of Camp On High and celebrity hair stylist Andrew Trott-Barn to give Star Treatment.

    Andrew Trott-Barn

    Morning TV is about to get a little camper, yes I know what I just said, as openly gay celebrity hair stylist Andrew Trott-Barn and Jane McDonald unleash their Northern charms to the nation, whilst giving under-appreciated workers of the UK the Star Treatment. ATB has even fingered the locks of Vivienne Westwood no less…

    We caught up with the stylist to get the goss from the set.

    On the show: The camp-o-metre was off the scale, To work, play and even sing the odd sing song together with Jane Mcdonald every day was amazing! She’s funny, hilarious and a little bit cheeky too. Every gay man’s dream!! Proper northern banter.

    Do we need star treatment? The show isn’t about flaws, It’s about making the best out of someone, giving them confidence, advice and making them Red-Carpet-Ready. Making them feel like a star for the day.

    Another ANTM? Don’t get me wrong some of the transformations do draw a comparison to ANTM.

    I’d never work again! Being a Celebrity hairdresser you get to know a lot of stories and gossip. It would be career suicide to share any of it!! Everyone has issues big or small, as long as you have friends and family around you who love you unconditionally that’s all that matters.

    I would love to: makeover/under Katie Price. Lose some of those extensions; I think she would look great with shorter hair.

    Andrew Trott-Barn

    My Husband, son and family mean the world to me, I wake up everyday and feel lucky to having such a great home life and family unit around me. All my close friends are just like my family, in fact they are my family too.

    I had a brain tumor removed almost 4 years ago. Going through something like that really makes you get your life in order and concentrate on the things that make you genuinely happy. Live life to the max!

    If you’re not happy then do something about it. Anything is possible if your put your mind to it. I’m busy with work, I’m a husband, a father, a brother and a best friend.

    ‘Your here for a good time, not a long time’..

    ‘Dance like nobody’s watching , sing like like nobody’s listening and f**k like your being filmed! Lol x

    I couldn’t live without my husband Michael (and our 4dogs). I always come home to smile and a waggy tail.

    Something people are always surprised (never actually) to learn is that I speak my mind at the most inappropriate times. If I have an opinion I just have to say it! Even if I’m wrong! #awkward #stubborn

    Andrew Trott-Barn

    Getting Poltical… Sochi Olympics, I think what is happening in Russia is just plain wrong. Being anti-gay isn’t going to help anyone, You can’t discuss, write or even talk about being gay or having gay issues. I think as a nation we should maybe stand up for what we believe, unfortunately if we were in Russia we wouldn’t even be having this interview!

     

    Follow Andrew Trott-Barn on Twitter

  • THEATRE REVIEW | As Is, Finborough Theatre

    Twenty-five years ago, the gay population in the USA was facing an unprecedented medical crisis, one that threatened to kill off the entire community.

    A new disease had immerged, its origins were little known and any sort of cure or treatment for its symptoms was still a pipedream too far for all of its victims. By 1987, the year As Is first played in London, Act Up, (the Aids Coalition To Unleash Power) reported that over 41,000 people had died because of this new virus, HIV, which essentially killed the immune system, leaving the person unable to fight off disease and infections.
    From this tragedy some incredible human stories were unfurled, astonishing artwork and heartbreaking literature was created out of the despair that was the 1980’s Aids epidemic.

    As Is, written by William M. Hoffman, is reportedly the first of a long line of awarding winning plays which hopes to explain the suffering that this ravaging thief of a syndrome caused; not just to it’s eventual victims, but the people who were around to see their once vibrant friends, family and lovers die, one by one in unimaginable pain.

    The story centres on the rekindling relationship between two ex-lovers Rich (Tom Colley), a young writer, just about to enjoy the success of his writing and his long-time lover Saul (David Poynor), a professional photographer. After Rich discovers that the disease that has destroyed so many of his friend’s lives has struck him, he returns to Saul for sanctuary.

    Both Colley and Poynor offer up extraordinary performances, the frustrations and imprisonment of both Rich and Saul’s situation bubbles through their words and actions. Their combined anguish is palpable and fiery, but amidst the anger, there are moments of pure intimacy, beautifully played and honoured.
    The ensemble cast are outstanding particularly Anna Tierney, who plays a variety of roles. Her more understated performance was a humbling reminder that not every PWA (person with Aids) was a gay male living in New York, but sometimes, as the syndrome drove its way into traditional America, a mother-to-be, caught up in the nightmare.

    The spirited supporting cast includes: Tom Kay, Paul Standell, Clare Kissane and Jordan Bernarde, who offers a breakthrough performance of a brother coming to terms with his sibling’s demise. Stylistic ensemble set pieces, keeps As Is’s aging gay references contemporary, by giving them tongue-in-cheek nods to caricatures we know, love. The fluidity of the cast’s reaction to the drama is a thoughtful way to ensure that today’s audience easily assimilates the play’s sometimes-dated and American centric humour.

    Beneath the surface of Andrew Keates’ direction lies a pacey, raw anger. Each line and utterance demonstrates one of the most honest emotions to emerge from the Aids epidemic in the 80s. The show’s design, by Philip Lindley, is a perfect metaphor, mirroring the end stages for the victims of Aids and the government’s inactivity in responding to the crisis – a crumbling building, dying from the inside and largely ignored.

    It’s almost impossible now for this generation of gay men to imagine losing their lovers and closest friends to an unstoppable virus – the frustrations of the 80’s gay community seems so distance, yet in the mere 25-year time lapse from this play’s first outing in London, it still feels fresh, raw and vitally important.
    As If runs at the Finborough Theatre until 31st August 2013
    http://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk

  • INTERVIEW | Queen of the BONK BUSTER Rebecca Chance

    If you don’t know who Rebecca Chance is yet, all you need to know is that she is the author where camp knows no limits. Move over Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins, RC is the Queen of the Bonk Buster.

    had the pleasure of talking to Ms. Chance last year, just after the release of her book Bad Angels, which was my guilty pleasure of the winter season. Read the review here.

    As she answered the phone to me, I heard her laughing, asking what she found funny, she told me she had been watching the Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta Christmas video on a loop and couldn’t stop rewinding it to the line dancing bit. Her cackling makes me love her instantly.

    No stranger to adding a bit of man on man action to her books, I asked her about it,

    ‘I’m bringing my editor along for the ride,’ Chance giggles, ‘She’s kind of got stabilisers on, little training wheels, on at the moment, she says as long as it’s “tender and sensitive” and I’m like ‘yeah…’ she giggles. ‘I mean I’ve been watching gay porn for 20 years… Catch up with the rest of us…’

    As for gay friends, Chance has over 30 of them, where as she collected them all from?

    ‘All over the world, It’s fantastic I’m a sailor with a wife in every port, it means I don’t have to hang out with straight men very much, it’s not that I don’t like them, it’s just that I don’t have a lot in common with them, most of my readers are women, gay men and one straight man called Brian – and I know him.’

    After just after speaking for 7 minutes and 39 seconds I can already see why she has attracted so much gay male attention.

    I ask her if she’d be all right at the dinner table if we all started to talk cock;

    ‘Oh darling,’ she quips, ‘that’s just at the cocktail stage!’

    What does Chance love about writing bonkbusters?

    ‘I was born to write these things, I can put all these things that are normally hard to get into books: I can be funny, I can write about sex, I can do social commentary.

    ‘I’m quietly bringing on my sexual political agenda, which is that you don’t have to be really pretty to have a great time in bed, you have the right to be happy whether you’re gay or straight or whatever colour you are – and I’m doing in a way that you don’t realise I’m doing it most of time.

    ‘You’re gonna come out the other end (of the book) thinking “oh wasn’t that a lovely gay couple it’s so lovely that they’re in love” – you won’t realised I’ve messed with your prejudices a bit, like an evil elf working at a meta level… I love it.’

    Her new book is called Killer Queens, a story about Chloe Rose, who is about marry a charming, sensitive loving… prince. Her life isn’t all fairytale though – her sister-in-law to be, is spiteful and the rest of his family looks down on her.

    Within 30 pages, the first rompy sex scene happens and you won’t look at bananas in the same way again. Oh yes and there’s some man o man action too. Perfect for a summer read.

    I ask her about her mornings, what can’t she get up without?

    “Prosecco, coffee and Solpadine.”

    There’s no arguing this lady knows her audience.

  • INTERVIEW | Zoe Lyons The Pop up Comic

    Funny woman Zoe Lyons is about to embark on her show Pop Up Comic at Edinburgh Fringe and we sit down to talk about what makes her tick and why she thinks Sir Gerald Howarth is a fool and why she loves Wanda Sykes.

    So what can an audience expect for your Fringe Show?

    One hundred exotic dancers and a massive fireworks finale where I reveal the meaning of life through the art of expressive dance. Will that is what I was planning and then I looked at my budget and and have scaled it back to one stand up with roughly 59 minutes of material. There will be tales of misadventure in the land of television and how I ended up being jealous of a dog in a wheel chair. If I win the lottery between now and August I might bring back the fireworks idea. I am in a small room so it would be spectacular.

    Do you enjoy doing Fringe

    Enjoy…..mmmm? Bits of it I love, I really enjoy doing my show every day, that is my “happy place”. It is great to catch up with people and see people’s shows and discover new comics. I will always go and search out something a bit different, something I wouldn’t ordinarily go to. I always think the Fringe would be much better if it was two weeks long, I have never really enjoyed the last week, I get home sick and miss my dog….. Oh and the wife.

    What’s the one thing people are surprised to learn about you?

    I am a bit socially awkward. I think it is because I have spent so long in my own company over the last few years I have become a bit hermit like. I give very poor small talk, genuinely I bore myself at parties, the life and soul of a party does not in any way emanate from me.

    What’s the route of all comedy?

    There is a high brow and low brow answer to this question and both are equally true in my eyes. Comedy comes in some ways from truth, tragedy and perspective and sometimes it comes from farting accidentally when you cough.

    Progressive or Agressive?

    Well idiots like Howarth who stand blindly in the way of progress make me feel aggressive so I guess I am both.

    What do you think Sir Gerald Howarth meant by that)

    I am guessing that in his eyes homosexuals who are standing up for equality are dangerously aggressive! He would prefer it if we shut up and went away. He seems concerned that by allowing same sex marriage the flood gates will be opened for these (imagined) aggressive gays to make even more demands on the government. He has described the legalisation of gay marriage “as a stepping stone to something further”. One can only guess as to what he has imagined our ” aggressive demands” would be? The right to marry my gay teddy bear? Everyone has to be gay for a day? The man is a fool.

    As a lesbian what’s the one question that people ask, that annoys

    ” So, which one of you is the man?” I think it is obvious lack of physiological awareness that really annoys me about this particular enquiry.

    Any LGBT Heroes, Icons and Idols ?

    I love Wanda Sykes, brilliant comedian, out, proud and very very funny.

    What you like to see happen to the LGBT community in 5, 10, 15 years time?

    Within 5 years the first same sex marriages will have taken place and in 10 years time people will wonder what all the fuss was about and in 15 years time I want all those who opposed same sex marriage on the grounds that it would undermine marriage, end society and cause global warming to apologies.

  • TheGayUK Launches the No Excuses Project

    The No Excuse Project is launched today, posting free condoms to your door. TheGayUK and the NHS’s Freedoms Shop have teamed together to ensure that anyone who needs access to free condoms can get them – delivered directly to their door, for free.

    New HIV infections and other sexually transmitted infections in the gay, male bisexual and Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) community are at record levels. So to try and combat this trend TheGayUK decided to launch their No Excuse Project to help out.

    TheGayUK’s co-founder Jake Hook said,

    “I was watching Channel 4’s The Sex Clinic and it occurred to me that somehow we’re being failed as a community in relation to sex health education. With cuts to vital services and the upward trend of new HIV infections in the UK, either people aren’t freely able to access condoms or don’t know that they can dramatically make the sex you have safer.

    “The day after the programme, I rang Katy Harrad at The Freedoms Shop and asked whether Freedoms would be able to help us out with condoms, luckily for us, she’s just as passionate about safer sex as we are.

    “We’re working towards making sure that there is No Excuse – ever – not to have a condom in your home or pocket.”

    Stand-up comedian Pam Ann, who’s offering her full support to the project, says:

    “If it’s NOT ON… it’s NOT ON!”

    The campaign called the No Excuse Project aims to ensure that everyone and anyone in the gay, bisexual or MSM community who doesn’t have access to free condoms, either because they’re too shy or embarrassed, think they’re too young or don’t live close to a gay bar which provides free condoms, can simply fill in a confidential form at www.noexcuseproject.co.uk and receive condoms through the post.

    A team from TheGayUK will be at a number of Prides around the country, including Oxford, Edinburgh, Reading, North Wales, Gloucester, Warwickshire and Doncaster aiming to bring attention to the campaign and giving out thousands of condoms to revellers.

    If you would like to donate towards the running of the No Excuse Project then please visit: Donate Here

    For every £1 donation we can help protect up to 4 partners from catching or spreading STIs.

    Thank you.

  • EDITOR’S LETTER | Look who’s one!

    I can barely believe it’s been a year since Graham and I officially started THEGAYUK. What started, as a reviewing site for music and film has turned into something we’re both so incredibly proud of and something we’re completely addicted to.

    I don’t think there’s been a day when something hasn’t been posted for our wonderful readers, even if we’re driving up and down the country, dipping into Internet cafes and buying a dongle – when Wi-Fi wasn’t available.

    We’ve managed to speak to some incredible people and celebrities over the year:

    Julian Clary, Gareth Thomas, Rylan Clark, Ben Cohen, Peter Tatchell, Doctor Christian Jessen, Scott Mills, Margaret Cho, Elvira, Steps, Heather Small and Pam Ann are just some of the wonderful people we’ve managed to interview in the last 12 months. Our readership has grown from 2,000 in the first few months to over 130,000 every month.

    We’ve seen some phenomenal stories develop from MPs voting on gay marriage to Russia’s frightening anti-gay agenda to the hideous way in which the traditional press treated the late Lucy Meadows.

    We have over 50 contributors who bring you the best in opinion, reviews, interviews and news. We’re so proud of everyone who has made TheGayUK possible – and we’re still open for anyone to write or contribute to us.

    In the year we’ve been official, TheGayUK created a free legal clinic and online sexual health clinic (with our special partners 56 Dean Street) and released our first App, which will help you find any gay business in the UK as well as free access to all our articles. We’re still thinking of ways we can help, like the introduction of our No Excuse Project – which will see us deliver free condoms to your door – anywhere in the UK.

    Recently Graham and I have been to a number of Prides up and down the country and have been meeting with some wonderful people. It’s been amazing to speak with the UK’s gay community from Scotland to Brighton. We’re proud and what’s more when we speak to our readers, they’re proud too.

    For as long as we have each other we’ll continue to be THEGAYUK.

    Ok gush over, let get back to being gay.

    Jake and Graham

    Co-founders

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • EDITOR’S LETTER | June, Pride

    Hello all and thank you so much for your continued support for THEGAYUK. Last month we had a record month with as our reach topped over 150,000 unique readers.

    This month we’re dedicating our pages to Pride. Yes love it or loathe it, Pride season is upon us and this year THEGAYUK is happily media sponsoring a number of Prides around the UK – and we look forward to meeting as many of you as possible – if you see us in our sexy T-Shirts come and say hey!

    Pride, I believe, is an incredibly important event for the gay community, from it’s humble beginnings on the July 1st 1972 in London, with just 700 people marching the streets to the mass lavish parties we’ve come to know and love in many of our cities across the UK – But what’s truly wonderful to witness is the growing number of new Prides and smaller Prides that are really starting to blossom.

    My first Pride experience was a little inauspicious shall we say – years before I was out, I happened upon Pride London quite by mistake – as I sat on the Tube from my home town in the far reaches of North London the Tube carriage began to fill with a number of colourful characters – odd I thought, but wasn’t too alarmed. It was only when masses of men boarded the train, dressed in all kinds of costumes, holding hands and yes, even kissing, I began to think I was no longer Kansa, or indeed Southgate… Dorothy.

    Being young and still at that ‘I’m not gay’ stage, I was genuinely shocked and intrigued, my twinset and pearls were being clutched, but I did want to know more, perhaps that man crush I had on a certain Neighbours character was something after all.

    Years on I relish Pride season – putting the clubbing and parties aside, Pride is an important tool for the LGBT community. It breaks boundaries, it allows our voices to be heard and for us to continue our journey to full societal equality.

    We must never forget who we are and how far we, as a community have come, in a relatively short time.

    To quote the theme from Oxford Pride this year, we’re ‘Not There Yet’ but we are getting closer everyday.

    We’re also launching our brand new Sexual Health campaign along with the Freedoms Shop, we’ve dubbed it the No Excuse Project.

    We’re aiming to deliver free condoms to anyone who doesn’t have access to condoms, to those who are too shy or embarrassed or aren’t able for whatever reason to get hold of condoms.

    With the rise of sexual infections and record new HIV infections amongst men who have sex with men, we’re passionate in making sure there is No Excuse not to have a condom in your house or pocket.

    If you’d like to know more or even help us fund the project visit www.noexcuse.thegayuk.com – Every £1 donated could potentially save 8 people from contracting a sexually transmitted disease in the UK.

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.