Author: News Desk
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GRAN CANARIA: Are you game enough for a spot of Tennis?
First ever LGBT Tennis Open to stage in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria 9th – 11th October 2015.
Dark nights getting you down? Well, it’s still not too late for you to sign up and join some Autumnal sporting fun in the sun.
This October the outdoor clay courts of the Open Gran Canaria Tennis Club, Las Palmas will host the first ever LGBT Tennis Open seen on the Island.
This year’s exciting launch tournament is a pre-event for Gran Canaria to host annual GLTA (Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance) Tournaments with all of the associated backing and glitz. GLTA is a global organisation, with some 8 million players and Martina Navratilova as the front figure.
A maximum of 70 men and women of all nationalities will compete in five different categories over the course of three days. The opening ceremony and first rounds take place Friday, 9th October, culminating in the Grand Finals, awarding of trophies and evening dinner event Sunday 11th October.
The event is set to be friendly and welcoming. Places are still available but limited and cost:
1 event: 25 euros2 events: 35 euros
Dinner party event (open to players and non-players): 20 euros
Event co-organiser Magnus Welin says,
“We know that there is a demand for LGTB tourists visiting the Island to meet and play with other LGTB players. May it be tourists or local residents of Gran Canaria and neighbouring Islands. Therefore not only are we staging this exiting first tournament but we are also founding a LGBT tennis club where tourists and locals can hook up and play at weekends.”
As this is the first LGTB tournament and a new concept that includes both the local LGTB community and tourists of all nationalities our work is receiving good interest. However we’d like to spread the word wider and particularly encourage more Transgender players to take part both in this October’s event and going forward. We are already planning for the 2016 tournament. This will be held at the Maspalomas Tennis Centre Club.’
As part of the launch players will also enjoy a complimentary tour of Gran Canaria to allow them to enjoy the beauty of the Island’s green valleys, mountainous ranges and azure coasts. In addition several gay resorts in Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas are also offering some players four night’s accommodation free of charge, prior to the tournament. With a possibility to meet new friends and relax before the competition starts the LGBT Tennis Open Gran Canaria is the perfect antidote to the Winter Blues.
To find out more and book your place to play visit the LGBT Tennis Open website:http://www.lgtbopengrancanaria.com/
Key Facts:
Venue: Open Gran Canaria Tennis Club, Street Ventura Doreste s / n corner, Jamat, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain (928 91 75 35) www.opengrancanaria.com
When: The LGBT Open Gran Canaria will be played on 9th, 10th and 11th October. Matches start Friday 9th October. Awards and trophy ceremony scheduled approx. 16.00hrs Sunday 11th October.
Entry deadline: Tuesday, September 30, 2015 11:59 PM (GMT +00: 00). The LGBT Open will consist of five GLTA categories: OPEN, A, B, C and D both in Singles and Doubles, male and female format.
Registration Fees:1 event: 25 euros
2 events: 35 euros
Dinner party event (open to players and non-players): 20 euros
Court Type: 6 clay courts for OPEN, A, B, C and D categories
Accommodation:
The organisers of the LGBT Tennis Open Gran Canaria have agreed special rates with Hotel Bed & Chic. The hotel is approximately 30 minutes from the Gran Canaria Open Club and is close to the fabulous city beach of Las Canteras:
Hotel Bed & Chic: standard room € 49.00, double standard € 45.50; superior room € 52.50, double superior room € 49.00; € 67.90 Junior Suite, Double Junior Suite € 60.90. Breakfast 10 € / person. www.bedandchic.com
TransportPublic bus line number 47 takes just 30 minutes from the Hotel Bed & Chic to the Gran Canaria Open Club.
by Mark Stanley | @GranCanMan76
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Ten Things You Did Not Know About Bake Off Tamal
Since Tamal Ray has appeared on Great British Bake Off, we’ve had thousands of readers wanting to find out more about him… Here are ten things you didn’t know about Tamal.
1) Tamal was born in Hertfordshire, north of London and he’s 29.
2) He now lives in Manchester.
3) According to all available sources (basically Twitter and Facebook) he’s single…
4) He’s a trainee Anaesthetist he describes himself on Twitter as the “fuzy hared doctor and lover of cake.”
5) With the help of the gay icon Kim Cattrall on Radio Four’s women’s hour Tamal tweeted, that he had “Never before have I identified so strongly with a group of post-menopausal women.”
6) Tamal knows when to use appropriate gifs on social media. Which is always a boon.
7) It seems the boys and the girls are totally in love with Tamal, with offerings of marriage from both sides..
8) Gay Twitter basically exploded with GBBO presenter Sue Perkins said,”Messy top tidy bottom” about one of his creations.9) Size matters to Tamal, he is regularly asked to bake family and friends’ wedding cakes too – the largest one was five tiers.
10) He basically loves his gifs on Twitter, even the smutty ones…
New Gay Bar In Camden Asks To Extend Trading Hours Until 3AM
Picking up from where The Black Cap left off, Bloc Bar is asking for its trading license to be extended, allowing it to serve until 3 am.
- The Black Cap was inauspiciously closed earlier this year leaving Camden, a borough in North London, without an LGBT home. After its demise, Bloc Bar was opened in July one minute away from the old venue.
According to Camden New Journal, Nigel Harris, who chairs Camden LGBT Forum, said:
“Since the closure of the Black Cap on Camden High Street, a minute’s walk from the Bloc Bar, a significant number of LGBT residents have lost their community hub.
The Cap was the only LGBT venue in Camden Town. Many residents facing severe isolation and difficulty with their own sexuality and gender identity relied on the Cap as a place to meet others and a sanctuary from homophobia. The Bloc Bar, although without the Cap’s history, will provide a much-needed hub for these residents.”
He added: “The drive to keep our heritage of providing local opportunities for artists to perform is very important. Providing the Bloc Bar with a late licence will allow this to continue… cabaret and drag performers perform late and it is not plausible to operate cabaret before 11pm”.
The extended trading license would allow for public performances until the early hours of the morning. The Black Cap was famous for its association with drag talent in North London. It has been credited for the birth place and stomping ground for many leading drag queens.
LISTEN: Sam Smith Bond Theme In Full
Multi-platinum selling British artist, Sam Smith recently revealed that he has become the latest musician to record the James Bond theme. ‘Writing’s On The Wall’, the theme from Spectre, is released today via Capitol Records and is available to purchase and stream now.
Bobby Davro Hides His Erection With A Hat
We couldn’t get more descriptive with that title if we tried.
In a rather shocking start to the last programme of the current series of Celebrity Big Brother comedian Bobby Davro shows off his other talents – namely hiding his penis with a hat – without hands. Yes dear reader, without hands.
The 57-year-old entertainer shocked his fellow housemates with a full on morning glory, hidden only by a hat.
It’s been 28 days in the house and clearly frustrations are starting to show.
The veteran stand-up joins fellow housemates Stevi and Chloe Jasmine, James Hill, Austin Armacost, Natasha Hamilton and Sherrie in their bid to win Celebrity Big Brother 2015.The programme is on Channel 5 from 9PM tonight.
The veteran stand-up joins fellow housemates Stevi and Chloe Jasmine, James Hill, Austin Armacost, Natasha Hamilton and Sherrie in their bid to win Celebrity Big Brother 2015.The programme is on Channel 5 from 9PM tonight.
It Is All Good: Azealia Is Not Homophobic She Has Gay Employees
American rapper Azealia Banks defends outrageous homophobic language against a Delta airline steward, by claiming that she’s not homophobic because she has gay employees.
A damming video, hosted by TMZ, from inside the plane shows Ms. Banks having a fracas with staff on board a Delta aircraft. In the video the words “f**king Fggot are heard, and are alleged to have been aimed at the flight attendant who was trying to calm the situation down.
Taking to Twitter the “212” rapper defended her words by saying that her employees were gay, her brother was trans and herself bisexual.
She said,
“I am bisexual. my brother is trans. My employees are all gay men. . Nothing else to say.
“I only OWE an apology to my fans. My true true ride or die fans. The rest of yall can pick up a rock and suck on it !!
“And to be quite honest IM [sic) REALLY tired of the world trying to police the way black women should or shouldn’t express themselves.”
Vicki Michelle “Pressing Charges” Against CBB Farah Abraham
Veteran actress Vicki Michelle is apparently set to press charges against reality personality Farrah Abraham after being hit on the head “with great force with a glass”.
The ‘Allo Allo actress released a statement through her agent which said,
“Actress Vicki Michelle MBE is this morning with Hertfordshire police and will be pressing charges against Farrah Abraham, who struck the back of her head with great force with a glass during the recording of CBBBOTS this week.
“Vicki has been in show business for 40 years and has been left in deep shock and with a concussion after the attack by Ms Abraham.”
The alleged altercation happened in Monday night’s episode of CBBOTS, a side show for Celebrity Big Brother, which is hosted by Rylan Clark. During the programme exchanges between Aisleyne and Farrah had got heated, she fumed,
“You’ve got your cheque, you’ve had your cheque now get on the plane and f*** off.
“Get on the plane and f*** off, no-one likes you. We don’t want you here. Go on!”
Later on as Farrah is talking to Rylan, Aisleyne interrupts and Farrah shouts her down saying,
“Hag be quiet”
Next Aisleyne says, “sorry”, and goes towards her Champagne glass… The programme is cut.
The show resumed after 10 minutes with the celebrity panel being removed from the studio.
Ms. Abraham’s agent has announced that the complaint is in the hands of her legal team and that no further comment would be made on the matter.
In a statement, Hertfordshire Police said:
In a statement, Hertfordshire Police said:
“Officers are continuing to make inquiries with relevant parties following the incident which occurred at Elstree Studio’s on the evening on September 22. These investigations are on-going at this time.
“No arrests have been made.”
During her time in the house Farrah Abraham had been criticised for the use of homophobic language. During a task she branded Gail Porter and Natasha Hamiton “lesbians” whilst callling Austin Armacost a “gay homo.”
Farrah tweeted that she wouldn’t be at the Celebrity Big Brother live final tonight because she doesn’t want to put herself in a hostile situation.
MP Sarah Champion Tweets Her Support For Blood Donations From Gay Men
Labour MP for Rotherham, Sarah Champion, has tweeted her support for the end of banning gay and bisexual from giving blood.
Labour MP Sarah Champion has tweeted her support for bringing an end to a discriminatory ruling that forbids men who have sex with men from donating blood, unless they have been celibate for 12 months. According to TheyWorkForYou.com Ms. Champion has “consistently” voted in favour of legislations that affect the rights of LGBTs in the UK.
The petition calls for the Government to end the 12-month deferral ban on gay men donating blood. It calls for a replacement “equal and individual risk assessment based process for all blood donors.”Ms. Champion tweeted a link to an official petition site, which is delivered direct to the Government. When the petition, started by Robbie Beveridge, reaches 10,000 signatures the government officially responds to the petitioner, at 100,000 signatures the petition is considered for debate in Parliament.
The debate about gay, bisexual and MSM’s ability to donate blood has become a hot topic in recent months with one campaign, Free To Donate already achieving over 37,000 signatures.
Ms. Champion was made Shadow Minister for Preventing abuse, a new position in the shadow cabinet. The appointment was made by Labour’s new leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Violence Erupts On Rylan’s Bit On The Side Big Bro Show
Chairs thrown, Champagne chucked, veteran ‘Allo, ‘Allo actress receiving medical attention – but who started it all?
Everything seemed to be going well on Rylan‘s show, when Farrah Abraham called reality star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace a “hag”. That’s when sources say things on the BBOTS set went nuclear.
During the programme exchanges between Aisleyne and Farrah had got heated, she fumed,
“You’ve got your cheque, you’ve had your cheque now get on the plane and f*** off.
“Get on the plane and f*** off, no-one likes you. We don’t want you here. Go on!”
Later on as Farrah is talking to Rylan, Aisleyne interrupts and Farrah shouts her down saying,
“Hag be quiet”
Next Aisleyne says “sorry” and goes towards her Champagne glass… The programme is cut.
Transmission was cut as Aisleyne was seen to pick up her Champagne glass. We’re told that Champagne went flying at this point, but not who started the fight which would eventually see all the panellists removed from the show.
A Channel 5 spokesperson said in a statement: ‘Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side was interrupted this evening due to an incident on the set.’
The programme which is broadcast with a minute delay cut before any of the dramatic violence unfolded. It returned shortly after with Rylan explaining that the panel had been removed and the show would go on. The programme ended at least 10 minutes before it’s official end time.
INNOCENT VICTIM: Veteran actress Vikki Michelle was injured by flying glass.
THE FULL MONTY: Janice and Jenna join the panel and sparks fly.
What follows is a mixture of reports, but apparently depending on who you believe Janice got involved in the fracas and is accused of throwing a chair, however the supermodel’s agent told the Daily Mail that she had ‘thrown herself in the path’ of another flying glass which was about to hit Vikki Michelle. The ‘Allo ‘Allo actress had to receive medical attention after being injured by glass. She tweeted her fans that being “checked over” and thanked them for their concern.
THE GLASS: What happened next?
A Channel 5 source told The Sun,
“It was absolute chaos. Glasses and then a chair went flying and Vicki ended up injured in the process.
‘Everyone was screaming and sobbing. Vicki, who hadn’t caused anything herself, was caught in the crossfire and ended up being glassed.”
One Direction Release First Album Artwork Without Zayn
Super group One Direction have released the artwork for their first album without Zayn Malik.
The new album Made In The AM follows the massive success of the single Drag Me Down which went to number one in the UK and number 3 in the US.
The band announced the album with a video message and the album pre-order went live today at 5pm GMT, with the full album being released globally on Friday November 13th.