THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • 10 LGBT films you definitely need to stream on Amazon

    Looking for something to watch today? Amazon Prime has the biggest selection of LGBT films and TV programmes of all the streaming services.

    Here are our 10 favourites from Amazon Prime. To see all LGBT films available on Amazon click here.

    Read our top choices for Netflix.

    A Single Man

    Drama centres on the day in the life of a gay college professor who is coming to terms with the death of his long-term lover. Highly rated on IMDB and Netflix, this film stars Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.

     

    Carol

    In the film Carol, Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett play two women who fall in love at a time when it was not accepted and actually frowned upon. Blanchett is magnificent as Carol, who risks losing her daughter yet has strong feelings for a much younger woman. Mara is even more superb as Therese, her innocence and naivete in full display. Both actresses are excellent, yet it’s Mara who ups Blanchette in the acting arena. The movie basically revolves around Therese and her coming of age not just with her career but with her sexuality as well. REVIEW: Tim Baros

    Dallas Buyers Club

    The very scary fact thing about watching Dallas Buyers Club is always knowing that this is sadly a very true story. These clubs like Woodroof’s (there were others in other cities) which provided drugs to those who contracted HIV, played an important role alongside the wonderful ACT-UP movement to continually put the FDA on notice, and without their unceasing pressure, demands and activism so many of the drugs that would eventually help with people with AIDS would never have been made available in time. REVIEW: Roger Walker-Dack

    Gays In Prison

    Gays in Prison is a documentary featuring Latrice Royale, the popular star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, as she reveals her own experiences in jail and explores the stories of other former and current LGBTQ prisoners, who face special challenges, violence and discrimination in the criminal justice system. The documentary is a joint production of Rogue Culture and Logo TV.

    The Imitation Game

    Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, The Imitation Game portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. The script is actually very funny as well as being poignant and thrilling. This is a must see film of this autumn/winter. REVIEW: Chris Bridges

    I’m A Porn Star

    Filmmaker Charlie David‘s light-hearted rambling review of the burgeoning gay pornography takes us through the history of porn from the 1930s. The documentary focuses on four of the most successful performers today. All of David’s subjects are very affable men and happy enough to candidly share their views on controversial topics such as barebacking, HIV, social stigma, fetishes and escorting. The whole question of gay-for-pay was also discussed by them and not always in a positive manner. REVIEW: Roger Walker-Dack 

    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. 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 that we’ve ever been able to. REVIEW: Jake Hook

    Please Like Me (seasons 1-4)

    You need to discover this gem of an Australian comedy, created by out actor, writer and comedian Josh Thomas. Follow Josh as he comes out as gay finds his first (second and third) boyfriend and discovers the joy of cooking, dog handling and straight-roommate disciplining. One of the best shows to come out of Australia in years. Fresh and full of heart. REVIEW: Jake Hook

    Rock Hudson’s Home Movies

    From his days as an obscure contract player to the revelations about his “gay life style,” the film provides an innovative and exciting look at the life of a legend: Rock Hudson.

    Transparent (seasons 1-3)

    When the Pfefferman family patriarch makes a dramatic admission, the entire family’s secrets start to spill out, and each of them spin in a different direction as they begin to figure out who they are going to become. Brilliantly thoughtful and wonderfully acted from all quarters.

  • THEATRE | Fancy Chance is coming back to Soho Theatre

    This April, Soho Theatre audiences are set to embark on an extraordinary journey courtesy of one of London’s most celebrated and versatile cabaret performers: Fancy Chance.  Her debut autobiographical show Flights Of Fancy runs for 5 nights from April 25-29 following sell-out previews in 2016. 

    c. Bodhan Cap

    A globe-trotting, time-traveling mini-spectacle with turbulent polemics and unexpectedly poignant stop-offs, Flights Of Fancy tells the true story of the artist’s journey from Korean refugee to international cabaret performer. In-flight entertainment includes offbeat humour, songs, and scenarios, written and performed by the artist herself and developed and directed by Nathan Evans.

    Fancy Chance says,

     “For years I’ve wanted to put together something long-form that allows me to expand on themes I’ve explored in shorter work, such as feminism, racism and body politics, using my own experiences as a starting point. Which isn’t to say it’ll all be serious, but there may be tears amongst laughter”.

    Fancy’s own travels started prematurely when as an abandoned baby, her life took an unchartered turn: “To this day I know nothing of my birth parents or birth name. If I hadn’t been adopted into a white family from the USA in the 1970’s then found home in London’s cabaret scene, who might I have been?  This show is used to explore the politics of identity and migration, the ethics of interracial adoption and global gentrification and to leave the audience questioning their own privileges and perspectives”.

    Fancy Chance’s work incorporates comedy, burlesque, drag, circus, cabaret and live art. Having made London her home she is consistently working and travelling. From Las Vegas (Caesar’s Palace no less..) to Latitude, and from Gothenburg to Glastonbury, cities as far afield as New York, Helsinki and Dubai have played host to Fancy’s multiple skills and personas.  In 2009 she was crowned the Alternative Miss World by national treasure Andrew Logan after hanging by her hair from the rafters of the Roundhouse and in 2016 Fancy collaborated with Marisa Carnesky in Carnesky’s Incredible Bleeding Woman prompting positive reviews.  She regularly performs at London’s Wonderground, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Leicester Square Theatre and The Box.

    ‘Twisted. Sick, even. But that’s the point.’ The Independent

    ‘Politically charged social critique with powerful feminist undertones.’ Exeunt

    ‘Consistently hilarious.’ The Stage

    Nathan Evans is a writer, director and performer whose work in theatre and film has been funded by the Arts Council, toured by the British Council, broadcast on Channel 4, archived by the British Film Institute and awarded a few statuettes. Previous shows for Soho Theatre include 7 Deadly Sins with The Tiger Lillies, Unplugged with David Hoyle and I Love You But We Only Have Fourteen Minutes To Save The Earth with Fancy Chance. www.nathanevans.co.uk 

    Listings:

    Date: 25-29 April 2017

    Time: 7.30pm 

    Title: Flights of Fancy

    Credits: performed by Fancy Chance, directed by Nathan Evans

    Venue: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE

    Tickets: £10-15

    Booking: www.sohotheatre.com 

    URLS: facebook.com/fancychances

    TWITTER: @fancy_chance 

  • Drag Race just got renewed

    Drag Race just got renewed

    Hip hip!

    RuPaul’s Drag Race just got greenlit for 10th series, making it the most popular LGBT TV programme ever. The show will start from March 2018.

    The show’s popularity has not waned at all, in fact, the producers have said that series 9 of the show was “breaking rating records”. The show also won RuPaul an Emmy.

    Speaking about the renewal RuPaul said,

    “As we celebrate a Decade of Drag, we’ll continue to tell universal stories of the tenacity of the human spirit,

    “Now more than ever, we rely on the power of love, laughter and creativity to combat fear and darkness.”

    Chris McCarthy, President of VH1, MTV and Logo said,

    “It’s been amazing to see the show get its highest season ever on a whole new night on a whole new network,”  “We brought in a whole new set of audience that is loving the show.”

     

  • Russia is no longer part of Eurovision

    Russia is out of Eurovision after the host nation, Ukraine said it would refuse entry to the Russian contestant.

    Russia will not be taking part in Eurovision 2017 after the Ukraine banned its entry, Julia Samoylova from entering the country. According to the EBU two solutions were offered to Russia’s Eurovision broadcast partner, Channel One and both were vetoed. Russia first performed at the Eurovision in 1994. This will be the first time it has not taken part in the competition.

    In a statement, the EBU said that Julia could take part via satellite or change their chosen artist to one that could legally travel to the Ukraine for the competition.

    The EBU stated,

    “Sadly both proposals have been rejected by Channel One and they have now announced they do not intend to broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. Unfortunately this means Russia will no longer be able to take part in this year’s competition. We very much wanted all 43 countries to be able to participate and did all we could to achieve this”.

     

    Why Did The Ukraine Ban Russia’s Eurovision Entry?

    Ukraine law forbids entering Crimea in order to perform. According to sources around 140 other Russian artists have been blacklisted by the SBU following the annexation of Crimea last year. Julia Samoylova is one of those artists as she had previously travelled to Crimea to perform.

    Russia and Ukraine have been in dispute since the annexation of Crimea and the fighting in east Ukraine.

     

    Frank Dieter Freiling, Chairman of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, the event’s steering committee, said,

    “We strongly condemn the Ukrainian authorities’ decision to impose a travel ban on Julia Samoylova as we believe it thoroughly undermines the integrity and non-political nature of the Eurovision Song Contest and its mission to bring all nations together in friendly competition. However, preparations continue apace for the Eurovision Song Contest in the host city Kyiv. Our top priority remains to produce a spectacular Eurovision Song Contest with our Member UA:PBC in May.”

  • Journalist who broke Chechen gay torture news is in hiding after ‘jihad’ death threats

    The journalist who broke the news about Chechyna’s purge on gay men is in hiding after the news reverberates across the globe.

    The Russian journalist who is responsible for breaking the news that Chechen officials had rounded up, tortured and detained men suspected of being gay, has said that she is in hiding and fearing for her life after a “jihad was declared against her”.

    Speaking on the Victoria Derbyshire show, Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina said that a jihad had been declared on her and the staff at her outlet after 15,000 people met in the biggest mosque in Chechnya and denounced the paper and journalists who published the original story.

    She said,

    “They reacted [to the story] in a terrifying manner… on April 3, in the biggest mosque in Grozny, 15,000 religious and various types of people came together and announced a Jihad on us… not just me personally, but all journalists at Novaya Gazeta.

    “They said the people at the newspaper who raised this question have damaged the honour of Chechen nation and should be prosecuted.”

    A spokesperson for Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov, said, that the report was “lies and disinformation” and claimed that gay people did not “exist in the republic”. The report was even dismissed as a sick April Fool’s joke, by the region’s interior ministry.

    As information continued to circulate about the mass rounding up and detaining of gay men in Chechnya, being referred to as a “gay purge” Baroness Anelay released a statement calling on Russia to investigate the claims.

    The UK’s Prime Minister, Theresa May has yet to speak out against the action.

  • How To Make The Perfect Proposal To Your Boyfriend

    How To Make The Perfect Proposal To Your Boyfriend

    Proposing to a loved one is possibly the single most nerve-wracking aspect of a person’s life. Whether or not you’ve discussed marriage, the pressure to get that special moment just right is enormous. With that in mind, celebrity jeweller and founder of Vashi.com, Vashi Dominguez has provided his most valuable tips for planning the perfect marriage proposal.

    gay men getting married
    CREDIT: dolgachov bigstock

    In public (a grand gesture)

    Proposing in public echoes great romantic comedies and if done right could be the most passionate moment of a couple’s relationship. Whether it’s a family occasion or using flash mobs, skywriting, theatrics, a homemade movie screened whilst at the cinema or a treasure hunt – these are just a few showstopping ways to show your spouse-to-be just how special they are in front of many and/or just in the presence of the two of you.

    Don’t: The key thing to remember is to match your moment with your loved one’s personality. There is nothing worse than surprising your partner with a grand public proposal if they’re naturally shy and/or a private person. Not only will it be an overwhelming experience for them but it also highlights that you haven’t understood their likes and dislikes.

    At Home

    Proposing in the comfort of your own home can be a wonderfully understated and intimate way to ask your partner to spend the rest of your life with you. It will take a lot of the pressure off the situation, and can be very touching especially if it’s a home you share together. If your partner is particularly shy, a proposal in a comfortable and familiar environment will have far better results than a very public display. A heartfelt speech and a home cooked meal prepared by yourself or perhaps a meal organised by a private catering and dining company for two are just a few great ideas to personalise your proposal.

    Don’t: Turn a cherished moment sour by just handing over the ring without a meaningful or romantic gesture behind it. A significant moment deserves some fanfare.

    At a special occasion

    Make a special occasion even more special by popping the question during a memorable time. Popular times to propose are birthdays, holidays, Christmases, Valentine’s Day and so on, however, nothing beats a more thoughtful and unique day experienced exclusively by the two of you. Think of unique and treasurable moments such as the day you shared your first kiss or the exact day when you realised you’d fallen in love as a perfect setting to mark such a special occasion. The more creative and sentimental – the better.

    Don’t: Never hijack somebody else’s big day like a wedding or another family event with your own proposal. You could be accused of stealing someone else’s thunder|

  • This theatre has the best all-gender toilet sign

    Sometimes you just gotta love a company’s sensibility.

    The management at this theatre in New Zealand doesn’t care what gender you identify as, or it seems, even if you identify as human – just as long as you wash your hands.

    The sign was the idea of the theatre director Sarah Anderson. Speaking to the Otago Daily Times the theatre manager said,

    “We like people to be relaxed and that’s the point of having the sign,

    “It takes any anxiety away for people who might feel pressured into going into toilets specified for one gender, or another, when they don’t necessarily relate to that gender.

    “The sign was installed to help people ‘to feel more comfortable and safe”.

    Quite right.

  • Teenager hospitalised after homophobic attack with a BRICK

    A teenager was left hospitalised after a horrific assault, in which he was attacked with a brick to the head.

    • The 18-year-old victim was targetted by a “group of men”.

    • Assailants allegedly hurled homophobic verbal abuse at the victim.

    • A brick struck the back of the victim’s head – and he was hospitalised.

    Police are appealing for information after a teenager was attacked with a brick in an apparent homophobic attack in the north of England. The man, who is 18, and has not been named, was hospitalised after the vicious attack by a group of men.

    Police say the victim was subjected to homophobic verbal abuse before throwing a brick at the rear of his head. The attack took place on the cycle path to the rear of Hollis Academy in Saltersgill in Middlesbrough.

    After the attack, the assailants ran off in different directions. One is described as wearing a mustard coloured ‘puffer’ style jacket.

    The incident occurred at around 8:30 PM on Monday 10th April,

    Following the attack, the victim was taken to James Cook University Hospital. He was treated for head injuries and has since been released.

    Anyone with information regarding the incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact PC Josh Parry on the non-emergency number 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

  • UKIP leader Paul Nuttall condemns the Chechen treatment of gay men

    UKIP’s leader Paul Nuttall has strongly condemned the persecution of gay men in Chechnya.

    Paul Nuttall, the UKIP leader has today strongly condemned the actions of Chechen authorities and the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, after over a hundred gay men were round up, detained and tortured in what some media outlets termed, “concentration camps”.

    Paul Nuttall said,

    “If these reports are true, and it looks like they are, then the Government must protest in the strongest manner.

    “Just because the warlord of this Islamic fiefdom is an ally of Putin should not blind us to the horrific abuse of human rights being perpetrated.

    “Putin claims to oppose Isis and its blend of fundamentalism in Syria but seems to be impervious to decency. He has the power to stop this inhumanity. The Government should demand that he does.”

  • Homophobic crime continues to rise in the UK’s capital

    The homophobic crime rate has continued to rise with nearly 6 offences per day on our capital’s streets.

    There are, on average around 6 anti-LGBT offences being recorded every day on London’s streets, a 9.63% increase year on year. In total, 2037 crimes were reported for the year 2016/17 compared to 1861 crimes in 2015 /16 and 1559 in 2014/15.

    However, the Metropolitan Police service was keen to point out that the crime rates were lower than five years ago and these current statistics are set against the gruelling austerity measures and “significant reductions in resources” set out by this current government.

    Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, responsible for Territorial Policing, said,

    “London is one of the safest global cities in the world. There are few others with such low rates of serious crime, such as murder and gun crime. 

    “Similar to the rest of England and Wales, crime rates in London are rising, but many of these are still at a much lower level than five years ago and are against the backdrop of significant reductions in resources. 

    “The crime picture has evolved and so must we in the way we police, recruit and operate. We have an ambitious transformation programme which is already underway and will deliver a 21st century police service for London, strengthening local policing by bringing specialist officers closer to communities. 

    “We are committed to increasing the amount of neighbourhood officers dedicated to particular areas to engage with the public and work with them to keep them safe; by the end of this year there will be an extra dedicated officer on every ward. 

  • Will Channel 5 fix this gay couple’s engagement?

    Tonight Channel 5’s One Night With My Ex will feature a one-time couple, Paul and Phil.

    Tonight Phil will confront Paul about why he left abruptly before during their engagement. Without a word.

    Will tonight’s episode bring them back to together or will it destroy them forever?

    After 24 hours alone together, will those nagging doubts be put to bed, or will they realise that despite it all, they still have feelings for each other?

    This compelling series delves deep into the heart of broken romances, giving former couples the opportunity to clear up any unfinished business by allowing them to ask the questions they wish they had asked and to find out things that they wish they had known.

    On Channel 5 at 10 PM