THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • Singer Aaron Carter has come out as bisexual

    Singer Aaron Carter has told his fans in a heart felt note that he’s bisexual.

    Aaron Carter, who made his fame in the late 90’s as pre-teen pop singer has come out as bisexual. He recently split with his girlfriend Madison Parker, the Daily Mail reports.

    His brother Nick Carter was in the super ground, Backstreet Boys.

    Taking to Twitter, Aaron told his 623,000 fans, in a heartful letter, that his bisexuality did not bring him shame and he didn’t want to be a “figure of disappointment”.

    He wrote that how during the earlier stages of his career he began an “experience” with a male that he had grown up with.

    He wrote,

    “To start off, I would like to say that I love each and EVERY ONE of my fans.

    “There’s something I’d like to say that I feel is important for myself and my identity that has been weighing on my chest for nearly half of my life.

    “This doesn’t bring me shame, just a weight and burden I have held onto for a long time that I would like lifted off of me.”

    “I grew up in this entertainment industry at a very young age and when I was around 13-years-old I started to find boys and girls attractive.

    “There were years that went by that I thought about it, but it wasn’t until I was 17-years-old, after a few relationships with girls, I had an experience with a male that I had an attraction to who I also worked with and grew up with,

    “To me, music has always been my temple.

    “Music will ALWAYS be what transcends all of us and myself.

    “The studio has always been my safe haven.

    “But the ultimate goal for me is to be satisfied.

    “I never want to be a figure of disappointment,”

    “The best quote to sum “I’ve never felt as though I didn’t belong, I just acted as though I did.” – Boy George.”

    Heartfelt coming out on Twitter

    https://twitter.com/aaroncarter/status/894022605216370688

     

    The singer has released four albums, the last in 2002. His first, self-titled album went to number 12 in the charts. In 1998 he released a song called “Crazy Little Party Girl” which went to number 7 in the UK charts.

    Earlier this year the singer released an EP, LØVE which reached number 37 in the US independent charts.

     

  • U turn from National Trust after “hundreds” revoke their membership over gay rainbow uniform

    National Trust has U-turned on its volunteers wearing the LGBT rainbow after its membership reportedly took a hit following reports that up to 11 volunteers at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, were removed from their front of house duties after they refused to wear Rainbow lanyards.

    U turn from National Trust after "hundreds" revoke their membership over gay rainbow uniform

    Volunteers who refused to wear Rainbow lanyards and badges at the National Trust’s Norfolk’s Felbrigg Hall were told they could not take part in public facing roles causing “hundreds” of members to effectively boycott the trust and revoke their membership status. The trust has now u-turned on its decision meaning that volunteers who do not want to wear the rainbow symbol will not have to.

    According to those who volunteer at the hall, all front of house workers were told to wear LGBT lanyards to celebrate one of previous owners of the hall, Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer, who was gay.

    The campaign is part of the National Trust’s Pride Prejudice and Pride season to mark the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales.

    U-Turn Time

    According to the Independent, a spokesperson for National Trust said it had never been their “intention” to ignore the personal opinions of its volunteer staff.

    They added,

    “We remain absolutely committed to our Pride programme, which will continue as intended, along with the exhibition at Felbrigg,

    “However, we are aware that some volunteers had conflicting personal opinions about wearing the rainbow lanyards and badges. That was never our intention.

    “We are therefore making it clear to volunteers that the wearing of the badge is optional and a personal decision.”

    Boycott of National Trust membership

    The Daily Telegraph is reporting that at least 250 members have phoned the trust and revoked their membership after boycott campaign was started. Many of those members have accused the charity of being “overly politically correct”.

    According to those who volunteer at the hall, all front of house workers were told to wear LGBT lanyards to celebrate one of previous owners of the hall, Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer, who was gay. The campaign is part of the National Trust’s Pride Prejudice and Pride season to mark the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales.

    The real backlash will be on the LGBT Community

    Editor of THEGAYUK, Jake Hook said,

    “It’s a real shame that something that was supposed to bring attention to LGBT history and interesting characters from our collective history has backfired in a terrible way. Now, because of the way this has been handled, by the National Trust the LGBT community once again finds itself in the firing line from comment trolls, the right-wing media and online bullies.

    “The volunteers who refused to wear the Rainbow lanyard should never be punished in this way. Rarely does punishment work in these situations and actually could cause a backlash towards the LGBT community.

    “A programme of education and enlightenment about LGBT matters is always more preferable”.

     

  • What time is Lip Sync Battle UK on Channel 5 and who is David Walliams?

    Lip Sync Battle UK airs tonight on Channel 5 – and stars David Walliams and Alesha Dixon.

    Two of the UK’s most famous talent judges, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon go head to head tonight on Channel 5 in Lip Sync Battle UK. The show is hosted by former Spice Girl Mel B and Professor Green. The show is a repeat.

    What time is Lip Sync Battle UK on tonight?

    Lip Sync Battle UK airs tonight on Channel 5 at 11.35 PM and repeats on 5+1 at 12.35 PM

    Who is David Walliams?

    Not only is David a talented comedian and actor in his own right, with millions of fans, but he’s also one of the UK’s most beloved talent judges thanks to his involvement in the juggernaut ITV show Britain’s Got Talent, and it might just be because of this show that many people search the internet for clues about David’s sexuality.

    He has in the past, stood accused of camping up and “acting gay” during his time as a judge on the show, with many suggesting that he’s doing it just for the laughs. In fact, earlier this year, he sent the Internet into overdrive over his sexuality after seemingly falling in love with an act. Fans of the show took to social media to question David’s sexuality. Many viewers suggested that David’s behaviour was offensive and insulting because he seemed to be using overtly camp gestures or using homosexual innuendos for laughs.

    Up until 2015, David Walliams was married to the supermodel, Lara Stone, after their split, fans of David’s started to question whether the Little Britain star was, in fact, gay or potentially bisexual.

    In an interview with the Radio Times, he may have answered their question by saying that the gender of a partner isn’t important, but that their “heart and soul” were key factors. He hinted that he could potentially fall for either a man or a woman and suggested that “things can change for people over the years“.

    In an interview, he said that as a child that he had “gay experiences” and remembering being “very confused” about it. He also admitted that has always been effeminate and that people often confuse effeminacy with being gay. He finished by remarking,

    “I guess I’m just very honest about my sexuality.

    “But there are plenty of effeminate people who are straight, and plenty of butch people who are gay.

    Anyways, as it’s 2017 it doesn’t matter which way David swings…

  • What time is Celebrity Big Brother on tonight and what’s the latest gossip?

    Celebrity Big Brother continues tonight on Channel 5 at a slightly later time.

    What time is Celebrity Big Brother on tonight and what's the latest gossip?

    The UK’s most famous house returns tonight at 22.30 PM – a slightly later time than usual. You’ll be able to catch up on all the latest gossip from the last 24 hours in Celebrity Big Brother.

    Tonight sees Helen Lederer, Derek Acorah and Paul Danan get immunity from nomination.

    What time is Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side on tonight?

    Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit with Rylan on the Side isn’t on air tonight and returns on Monday night at 11.05 PM.

    Who is Rylan Clark-Neal?

    Rylan is probably most famous for his stint on the X Factor in 2012 where he finished in fifth place. He then went on to take part in and win Celebrity Big Brother in January 2013.  He was born in 1988 and actually first made his name on a smaller reality show called, Signed By Katie Price, which he placed runner up.

     

  • “Hundreds” of members revoke their member to National Trust over gay rainbow campaign

    The membership of the National Trust had reportedly taken a hit following reports that up to 11 volunteers at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, were removed from their front of house duties after they refused to wear Rainbow lanyards.

    Volunteers who refused to wear Rainbow lanyards and badges at the National Trust’s Norfolk’s Felbrigg Hall  were told they could not take part in public facing roles causing “hundreds” of members to effectively boycott the trust and revoke their membership status.

    The Daily Telegraph is reporting that at least 250 members have phoned the trust and revoked their membership after boycott campaign was started. Many of those members have accused the charity of being “overly politically correct”.

    According to those who volunteer at the hall, all front of house workers were told to wear LGBT lanyards to celebrate one of previous owners of the hall, Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer, who was gay. The campaign is part of the National Trust’s Pride Prejudice and Pride season to mark the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales.

    Anyone who refused to wear the lanyard was moved to non-public facing roles.

    The Mail Online has reported that at least 75 volunteers at the hall are said to be protesting the call to wear the lanyards.

    The Trust has said that it has a “for ever, for everyone” policy.

    Annabel Smith, head of volunteering and participation development at the Trust, said,

    “We do recognise that some volunteers may have conflicting, personal opinions,” she said.

    “However whilst volunteering for the National Trust we do request and expect individuals to uphold the values of the organisation. We encourage people with any concerns to chat to our teams. As part of Prejudice and Pride we have worked closely with Stonewall and the University of Leicester who have been providing training and support to help as many volunteers as possible feel confident to take part.”

    When pro LGBT campaigns backfire

    Editor of THEGAYUK, Jake Hook said,

    “It’s a real shame that something that was supposed to bring attention to LGBT history and interesting characters from our collective history has backfired in a terrible way. Now, because of the way this has been handled, by the National Trust the LGBT community once again finds itself in the firing line from comment trolls, the right-wing media and online bullies.

    “The volunteers who refused to wear the Rainbow lanyard should never be punished in this way. Rarely does punishment work in these situations. A programme of education and enlightenment about LGBT matters is always more preferable”.

     

     

  • 10 times Derrick Gordon was hot AF

    We’re starting a Derrick Gordon appreciation club – form an orderly queue.

    He was the first out gay men in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I, but asides from that – he’s totally hot as these 10 Instagram posts prove.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BWf-_TKFyv1/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BTNc8djFpe0/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BR6YXYJga-N/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BRTzwmcAfs1/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BSPfx-ogTRk/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BSttqkel1tw/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BSOzFz9llGP/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BSgwlr4lQBo/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWoo5-F2el/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BP8Wri3DFS0/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

     

  • Out Basketball star Derrick Gordon celebrates one year anniversary with his boyfriend

    The first out gay men in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I, Derrick Gordon has just celebrated one year with his boyfriend.

    Derrick Gordon and his boyfriend, JR Richardson, are celebrating one year together, the star has revealed, in a sweet post to his Instagram page.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BXYsScuAd10/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

    In the post, the athlete said, ” Wow how time flies. Today is our one year anniversary. Love you babe dnvr.jr Happy 1st year! ☺️”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BUnoCpvlwzM/?hl=en&taken-by=flash32gordon

    Derrick was the first National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division I player to come out as gay in 2014. He is just one of a handful of out, high profile players in American sports. He was also the first openly gay man to play in the March Madness tournament.

    His decision to come out followed that of football player Michael Sam and the National Basketball Association (NBA) player Jason Collins who he says inspired him to come out.

     

  • BBC to air bold experiment to see if kids can go gender-free

    The BBC is set to broadcast a programme which aims to see if kids can go gender free.

    Is the way we treat boys and girls the real reason we haven’t achieved equality between men and women?

    In this bold, engaging and provocative experiment, Doctor Javid Abdelmoneim aims to find out whether stripping away the pink and blue will change the way this class of seven-year-olds think.

    Being gender neutral

    Taking over one Year 3 class from Lanesend primary school in the Isle of Wight, Doctor Javid aims to remove all differences in the way boys and girls are treated to see if, after six weeks of gender neutral treatment, he can even out the gaps in their achievement across a range of important psychological measures from self-confidence to spatial awareness.

    As a doctor, he knows there are basic biological differences between the sexes, but he believes our biology can’t fully explain why men and women’s life chances – from pay, to careers are still so unequal in the UK. Even a quick shopping trip reveals just how much childhood has changed since Dr. Javid was growing up, with a tsunami of pink and blue clothes and toys aimed at different genders. A visit to Professor Gina Rippon at Aston University, one of the UK’s leading experts in brain imaging and neuroscience, reveals there is no such thing as a male or female brain type and instead the brain is a plastic organ, shaped and moulded by experiences, in which childhood is key.

    Shocked by the children’s own polarised opinions on how boys and girls should live their lives, Doctor Javid commissions Dr Stella Mavroveli from the Psychometric Lab at University College London to assess between boys and girls behaviour and psychological traits from confidence to self-esteem, empathy and social skills. Upset by the results, Dr Javid sets out a series of interventions both in class and at home, to tackle these differences. Will Doctor Javid’s gender neutral mission produce meaningful change when he later repeats his tests at the end of term?

    There are two episodes in this series, episode 1 will broadcast on Wednesday 16th August and the second will air on the 23rd August. Times to be confirmed, both will be broadcast on BBC 2

    No More Boys And Girls: Can Our Kids Go Gender Free? is produced by Outline Productions for BBC Two

     

  • Who is Jonathan Cheban and what is he famous for?

    Jonathan Cheban is joining Rylan Clark-Neal on Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side tonight, but what do we know about the man?

    Who is Jonathan Cheban and what is he famous for?

    Jonathan Cheban is probably most famous for being Kim Kardashian’s best friend and starring in the hit reality TV Series, Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

    Has Jonathan Cheban ever been on Celebrity Big Brother?

    Yes in January 2016 Jonathan joined a whole host of celebs for Celebrity Big Brother, in what would become one of the most famous series of the show. Most notably it was the show where Angie Bowie found out that David Bowie had died and Tiffany Pollard upon hearing the news from Angie, mistook the news believing that her fellow housemate, David Gest had died.

    However, Jonathan left the show before being nominated or facing the public vote. A spokesperson confirmed his exit by saying, “Jonathan Cheban has decided to leave the Celebrity Big Brother House.

    The news came just two days after Cheban had voiced his concerns about feeling comfortable in the house and suffering anxiety.

    Is Jonathan Cheban married or gay?

    Is Jonathan Cheban married or gay?

    In 2012, during an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kris Humphries suggested that Jonathan might not be straight, which caused Kim to take matters into her own hands and ask the question outright, “What is your preference? Girls, guys, what?” she asked.

    Kim even had an entire episode of her reality show dedicated to the speculation about his sexuality, although Heavy.com notes that “We’ve never really gotten a solid answer.”

    It is not known if he is married or single. He has however been linked with Anat Popovsky.

  • DVD REVIEW | Milk

    Powerful, heartfelt and a strong testament to a force with that was Harvey Milk, the first openly gay political powerhouse that ran for major in San Francisco in the late 70s.

    Sean Penn, plays the central role of Harvey Milk and putting aside the hotly debated discussion of whether gay men should fill the roles of gay character’s in the films, I feel that Penn does a brilliant job. No ham involved. A remarkably sensitive portrayal of this pioneer in a backwards, gay loathing, back stabbing system. Of course, there is a certain bit of eye candy – that being one Mr James Franco who we’ve been seeing a lot of recently.

    Although his part is short, Franco brings a personal life to Milk’s political life.

    It is easy for us of a certain age, to forget or not to acknowledge those who went before in the equal rights cause and I say films like this need to be produced more and more, so that we never forget, how and why we are able to live in the western world freer than we’ve ever been able to.

    Available to buy/view on: Amazon | Amazon Prime | iTunes

     

  • MOTORING HEROES: Chris Goffey

    Mind Your Head mate.

    Motoring legends come in all shapes and sizes. Some look to motorsport for theirs like Nigel Mansell. Some look to designers like Bertone. Both the aforementioned are heroes of mine but one other that stands out was a gentleman who a friend of mine and I would often talk about after Thursday night’s Top Gear. I am talking about Chris Goffey.

    From 1981 to 1997 Lancashire born Chris was in the spot light presenting Top Gear alongside William Wollard and Sue Baker amongst others. He is probably the longest serving member of the original format to present Top Gear with 17 years under his belt and 179 shows to his name. His no nonsense style was always clear and concise. No faffing around. It was a style I liked on Top Gear. It was almost like listening to your father tell you about the car he was about to purchase for the family or a talking brochure. He was informative in giving all the details the geek in you actually wanted to know without honing a car like a lunatic around a track for the show.

    Watch any old Top Gear and his understatement in dress attire comes over in a warm wave of joy as he calmly navigates a car while talking to the camera. No high jinks, no being stupid and more importantly no screaming except maybe from the tyres.

    One of the most memorable things I remember about Chris Goffey was that he was never quite happy with a car even if you thought it was perfect because of the brand loyalty you had for the likes of Fiat for example. He would pick holes in a sometimes trivial thing. Now writing about cars myself I have to back track on my original statement that I made at the age of 14. He was right. I recently drove a Lotus Elan S2 for the classic review for THEGAYUK and I totally agreed with him regarding the obtrusive central arm rest being in the way.

    Chris became known before Top Gear for his part in ITV’s motoring programme, Police 5  before jumping to BBC. Prior to that, he was a motoring journalist and news editor for Autocar Magazine in 1972 for 6 years. Chris will also be known for being the father of Danny Goffey, lead singer of Supergrass. He is also married to ex Labour party councillor Linda Nolan. Not to be confused with the Nolan sisters Linda Nolan.

    Still busy and still teaching in one way or another today, Chris was in the news last year in 2016 where he slammed his local Oxfordshire County Council for axing the mobile library service that he worked on. It served the outer reaches of the community. His writings and education promotions still make him known today. Despite a nasty fall and broken neck from horse riding, he is still a keen horse rider. He has recently been out promoting safer driving around horses with the British Horse Society. One of his quotes taken from Horse and Hound (www.horseandhound.co.uk) is one I whole heartedly agree with. “Your air bag and seatbelt won’t help you a lot and if it (horse) comes through the windscreen it will kill you” so slow down for horses. And The Archers’ fans out there will love to know that he also breeds Alpacas.

    And my one personal admiration for him lives on with my constant search for boot locks that would smack you on the head. He mentioned it in the review he did for Top Gear in 1990 about the then new Fiat Tempra. Having owned one, I can see, well feel, if I am honest, exactly what he means.

    Mind your head! Thanks, Chris.