THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • X FACTOR Hotness: 8 Hot Piccys Of Jake Quickenden

    With Jake Quickenden firmly embedded into the Live shows on the X Factor, we look at 8 incredibly hot pictures of him. All the in name of great journalism.

    With Jake Quickenden firmly embedded into the Live shows on the X Factor, we look at 8 incredibly hot pictures of him. All the in name of great journalism.

    However he is back and in the meantime, Jake has been busy posing in front of mirrors – becoming a king of the Selfie. Here are a few of our favourites.

    Jake Quickenden currently has 33/1 odds in William Hill of being the outright winner of 2014’s X FACTOR winner. Time to step yo pussy up Jake… (We love it went we get all street).

  • Justin Bieber Topless In The Boxing Ring

    Justin Bieber has shown his prowess in the boxing ring…

    Canadian superstar Justin Bieber has shown off his boxing prowess. This year has seen Bieber try his luck in modelling and now it seems as though he’s trying out in the world of boxing. We like the restraint the trainer is showing.

    This is an interesting development and we’re wondering whether it’s to keep away other celebs. Especially ones like Orlando Bloom, who he notoriously had a spat with in July. Later in July, Biebs cause an internet storm after uploading topless pictures to a website that is popular with the gay community.

  • LGBT Icons Who Died In 2014

    It’s been a sad year with a number of LGBT Icons / Idols from Robin Williams to Joan Rivers who have died in 2014.

    Philip Seymour Hoffman 2nd Feb 2014

    Birthdate: 23rd July 1967

    Age: 46

    The Oscar winning actor was found dead in his New York apartment from an acute mixed of drug intoxication. He left 3 children. In 2005 he won Best Actor at the Oscars for his portrayal of Truman Capote. He also played gay in Flawless and Boogie Nights. He said this about playing gay: “When I play somebody gay, I never think of it as ‘I’m playing a gay character.’ It’s interesting to play all the different aspects of the character. There’s something else about the character that’s pulling me there that I identify with. With Flawless, it’s not that he was gay—I found it more interesting that he thought he was a woman. With Capote, it’s the story that he had as an artist. And in Boogie Nights, he was so completely stunted I don’t even think he knew his attractions were of a gay nature.”

    Shirley Temple 10th Feb 2014

    Birthdate: 23rd April 1928

    Age: 85

    The iconic former child star died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He ranks 18th on the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest female American screen legends of all time. Her family stated that she died of ‘natural causes.’

    Sid Caesar 12th Feb 2014

    Birthdate: 8th September 1922

    Age: 91

    Sid Caesar was an actor and comedian was best known for his role in the ever popular 1978 film Grease and the 1982 film Grease 2.

    Christopher Malcolm 15th Feb 2014

    Birthdate: 19th August 2014

    Age: 67

    Christopher was the 1st of three deaths in 2014 from the cast of camptastic Absolutely Fabulous. In Ab Fab he played the gay ex-husband of Eddie. His daughter reported his death was from Cancer.

    Maria Von Trapp 18th Feb 2014

    Birthdate: 28th September 1914

    Age: 99

    Maria was the second-oldest child of Georg Van Trapp. She and her siblings inspired the musical and film The Sound Of Music, which has long been a favourite of the gay community.

     

    Charlotte Dawson 22nd Feb 2014

    Birthdate: 8th April 1966

    Age: 47

    Charlotte was an Austrailan TV presenter who was a passionate ally for the LGBT+ community. She died by committing suicide at her Woolloomooloo home, in New South Wales. She was also a ambassador against cyber bullying.

    Clarissa Dickson Wright 15th March 2014

    Birthdate: 24th June 1947

    Age: 66

    The last of the Two Fat Ladies has died at the age of 66. In an interview with Philly.com in 1998, Dickson-Wright and Paterson talked about how they were very happy with their gay supporters, saying: ‘We’re gay icons,’ she says with glee, as if this is the best thing that’s ever happened to her. “We’re like Judy Garland and Bette Davis.

     

    James Redhorn 21st March 2014

    Birthdate: 1st September 1948

    Age: 65

    James Redhorn was an actor who appeared in over 100 films in his career. He died of melanoma, which was diagnosed in 1992. In 2013 he starred in the gay film: The Perfect Wedding.

     

    Kate O’Mara 30th March 2014

    Birthdate: 10th August 1939

    Age: 74

    Kate O’Mara was famous for her stint in Dynasty, however she was also the second cast member from Absolutely Fabulous to die in 2014. In Ab Fab she played Patsy’s long lost sister Jackie Stone. Her agent Phil Belfield said that she died in Sussex following a short illness.

     

    Frankie Knuckles 31st March 2014

    Birthdate: 18th January 1955

    Age: 59

    The late Frankie Knuckles is known as the Godfather of House Music, a genre which was adopted by the gay community as the preferred sound in many clubs around the world. Knuckles died of Type II diabetes-related complications in Chicago on March 31, 2014 at age 59.

     

    Sue Townsend 10th April 2014

    Birthdate: 2nd April 1946

    Age: 68

    Author Sue Townsend has been known to teenage males since the introduction of her most famous character Adrian Mole in 1982. The books have gone on to sell millions of copies around the world. Townsend died at her home on 10 April 2014 following a stroke

    Frank M. Robinson 30th June 2014

    Birthdate: 9th August 1926

    Age: 87

    Frank M. Robinson was an author, but most notably he was credited as Harvey Milk’s screenwriter. He was the author of 16 books, 3 of which were made into films, The Power, The Glass Inferno (made into The Towering Inferno) and The Gold Crew.

     

    Dora Bryan OBE 23rd July 2014

    Birthdate: 7th February 1923

    Age: 91

    Dora Bryan OBE was the third castmate from Ab Fab who died in 2014. She played the part of Eddie’s Mum’s scene stealer good friend. TGUK writer Roger Walker-Dack noted in his obituary of Bryan, ‘To gay men she was the complete epitome of camp and managed to be as outrageous as she could in all the great comic roles that came her way. None so more when towards the end of her career she played go to June Whitfield’ best friend in the Jennifer Saunders ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ a role, which earned her another BAFTA Best Actress Nomination.’

     

    Robin Williams 11th August 2014

    Birthdate: 21st July 1951

    Age: 63

    Robin Williams was found dead at his home, after an apparent suicide in August 2014. His death shocked the world. Robin Williams rose to fame in the 1970s during a TV series called Mork and Mindy which ran from 1978 to 1982. It wasn’t until Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society that William’s cemented his name as one of the Hollywood greats. He also found success playing gay characters, doing so twice, first in Birdcage and then again in 2014 in Boulevard.

     

    Lauren Bacall 12th August 2014

    Birthdate: 16th September 1924

    Age: 89

    Lauren Bacall passed away in New York at the age of 89, after a career that spanned seven decades. She became a bit of a gay icon, winning legions of fans, with her films, How To Marry A Millionaire (opposite Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable), Written On The Wind as Rock Hudson’s muse and the mother of Barbra Streisand’s character in the 1996 film, The Mirror Has Two Faces. She was known as deeply liberal and anti-Republican. In an interview with Larry King in 2005 she said, ‘being a liberal is the best thing on earth you can be. You are welcoming to everyone when you’re a liberal. You do not have a small mind.’ She died from a Stroke.

     

    Joan Rivers 4th September 2014

    Birthdate: 8th June 1933

    Age: 81

    Joan Rivers passed away after being on life support in Mount Sinai Hospital. She had suffered a cardiac arrest in New York in September. She was 81. In a statement, her daughter Melissa said she died surrounded by family and friends, and she thanked hospital staff for their “amazing care”.

     

  • University of Birmingham Puts LGBT+ Identities at the heart of Its Curriculum

    The University of Birmingham is taking steps to ensure that its curriculum is inclusive towards those with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) identities.

    The new project is innovative within the higher education sector and will draw on current effective practice across the University to develop a guide for colleagues seeking to embed LGBT issues in all of the institution’s academic disciplines.

    From scoping work carried out by the project co-ordinators, the focus of initiatives to tackle inclusivity previously centred around the social and pastoral experiences of LGBT+ students at the University, rather than on the content and delivery of teaching. However, students have reported that interactions in lectures, seminars and laboratories are crucial to their experience. Positive experiences signposted include good staff role models and the use of case studies that acknowledge LGBT+ identities. Nationally, LGBT+ students in higher education experience higher than average rates of drop out, use of student support services, mitigating circumstances (health and social problems) and suicide rates.

    InThe project at the University of Birmingham will explore the experiences of staff and students, through a survey and local-level workshops over two years. These findings will be synthesised with a review of course literature and compared with experience across the education sector internationally.

    Champions across the University and the newly-formed Inclusive Curriculum Working Group will promote best practice recommendations that are tailored to different academic disciplines. These initiatives will support the work the University already undertakes around equality and diversity, with the institution fully committed as a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

    Co-Project Leader Dr Nicola Gale, Lecturer in the Sociology of Health Care, Health Services Management Centre said,
    “For LGBTQ students, coming to university can be a really positive experience socially, with the opportunity to meet new people and, here at Birmingham, join the excellent student LGBTQ Association. However, we would like to ensure that this experience translates into the actual content of their courses.”

    Co-Project Leader Dr Nicki Ward, Lecturer in Social Work, School of Social Policy added,

    “Our project seeks to identify good practice across all the academic disciplines at Birmingham and to offer practical support to lecturers on making their classroom a more LGBTQ-inclusive place.”

    Along with the production of best practice resources and workshops, those involved in the project hope to present their research at the University’s prestigious Teaching and Learning Conference in 2015, as well as publish results in a peer-reviewed journal. Findings from the study will also be shared nationally and internationally amongst colleagues at over research-intensive universities.

  • First British Muslim Drag Queen Has Eurovision Hopes

    Britain’s first Muslim drag queen Asifa Lahore releases her self-penned debut single ‘You And I’.

    According to the UK’s first Muslim Drag Queen Asifa Lahore, what differentiates this project from her other songs is that for the first time, she releases original material with a strong focus on thoughtful contemporary lyrics and stunning vocals.

    ‘You may have seen me trying to discuss the topic of faith and sexual identity on the BBC Three show ‘Free Speech’ earlier this year, and subsequently in the press. Since then I have appearing on BBC World News with leading Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly and an array of British Asian community channels talking openly about LGBT issues.

    ‘I have also spent the summer recording an EP in the UK, America and Sweden.’ says Ms. Lahore

    The first single from the EP is ‘You And I’ has been submitted as a potential Eurovision entry for the United Kingdom after the success of Conchita Wurst at the Eurovision in May 2014.

  • HIV Exhibit Opens At The Museum Of Liverpool

    On Friday 10 October, a new multi-media display Now + then: Three Decades of HIV in Merseyside will open at the Museum of Liverpool. The display forms part of the 2014 Homotopia festival.

    Now + then uncovers how local people and communities have responded to the challenges of HIV from the 1980s to the present day. The display will include a new powerful short film, interviews, photography and objects, all exploring people’s own remarkable stories and experiences.

    Located in The People’s Republic gallery, the display highlights an important chapter in Merseyside’s history of activism. Merseyside’s communities were among the first nationally to respond to the 1980s crisis of ‘AIDS’. Liverpool’s pioneering drug harm reduction and needle exchange schemes became internationally renowned as the Mersey Model.

    Kay Jones, Curator of Community History at National Museums Liverpool said: “It has been incredibly rewarding to work closely with Sahir House to help reveal this untold part of our history. We hope that the display will educate and raise awareness of HIV, which could affect anyone in our local community”.

    Andrew has been living with HIV for 30 years and lost many people to late stage HIV, previously known as ‘AIDS’. He said: “Back in the 80s if you didn’t see someone for a few weeks you would assume the worst. I remember funerals happening every week. Although much has changed since then, the film included in the display shows the impact that an HIV diagnosis can have on a person’s life whether it was 30 years ago, 30 months or 30 days.”

    Now + then was created by Sahir House – Merseyside and North Cheshire’s HIV charity – in collaboration with Soft Octopus Design Studio and Thinking Film, as part of the Museum of Liverpool’s partnership programme Our City, Our Stories. The display is the culmination of a wider two-year project, funded by the Heritage Lottery.

    The idea for the project came from service users and volunteers at Sahir House who felt it was important to record people’s own stories about HIV and Merseyside before they were lost forever.

    In 2012 the Museum of Liverpool hosted a community meeting to develop ideas for the project. Following this Sahir House successfully bid for £76,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Since the first community meeting, the Museum of Liverpool has provided a base for Now + then public events.

    Early supporters of the project were Liverpool Archives and the North West Sound Archive, as the oral testimonies and archive materials collected during the project will form two new nationally significant archive collections.

  • Scottish Government Launches Next Phase Of Bowel Cancer Campaign

    Bowel cancer can be beaten – if detected early. This was the message Scots were told today as the Scottish Government launched the second phase of its bowel cancer awareness campaign.

    In a bid to encourage more Scots aged 50-74 to take part in the life-saving national bowel screening programme, the new campaign carries the powerful message that early stage bowel cancer can often be cured.

    The campaign shows the real value of completing the home screening kit, which is the best way to find bowel cancer early.

    Picking up where the first campaign left off, the next phase wants to increase the 57 per cent of bowel cancers detected at the earliest stages, by asking more people to return their completed kits.

    Last year’s public awareness campaign resulted in a large increase in calls to the national bowel screening centre and the latest statistics shows that uptake of the programme has gone up from 54 to 56 percent in two years.

    Health Secretary Alex Neil said: “We know that nine out of 10 people will survive bowel cancer if it is detected early. Completing and returning the home test is the simplest way to get checked – giving yourself the best possible chance of survival.

    “However, only just over half of those eligible have taken the opportunity to get tested. Bowel cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, especially when it’s caught early, and taking the test helps us to do exactly that.

    “We want to encourage even more people to take up the services on offer and help further increase the rate of bowel cancers detected at the earliest stage, when people are least likely to need invasive treatment and most likely to survive.

    “An important part of this is ensuring everyone who is eligible takes the time to complete their home test kit. Having done the test myself I know how simple it is to do and the results could make a difference to your life. My message is clear, bowel cancer can be beaten if its caught early. Don’t get scared, take the test.”

    The campaign, which goes live today, is supported by 70-year-old Sheena Edgar who is one of Scotland’s growing number of cancer survivors thanks to screening.

    Sheena, from Lanarkshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer after completing a routine bowel screening test three years ago.

    Highlighting the importance of the returning the screening kit Sheena said: “I had no symptoms at all but I sent away my test anyway. Just a few days later I had a letter asking me to get in touch with the hospital to arrange a colonoscopy. They told me they found three polyps which were then sent away for testing.

    These tests, which would not have been done if Sheena hadn’t returned her kit, showed that she did indeed need treatment.

    Sheena explained: “I then had an operation, but was home three days later and felt like I was back to normal. It was all really quick. The staff that helped look after me were absolutely brilliant. It was over before I realised that anything had even happened.

    Sheena is sharing her story as part of the new campaign because she recognises how it saved her life – a message she wants others to know.

    She said: “I’m very grateful for the screening service. Don’t be put off doing the test – it’s so simple and could save your life. You might not like the thought of it, but it’s easy and you can do it in private, in your own home.

    “It doesn’t bear thinking about how long I might have had to wait before finding out I had bowel cancer, without the screening programme. It could have been much further down the line, when it was more advanced – I could have been facing a very different outcome all together.

    “I was so lucky it was caught early, thank goodness for the screening service.”

    Applauding the new campaign Emma Anderson, Scottish Operations Manager, Bowel Cancer UK said:

    “Bowel Cancer UK welcomes the next phase of the Detect Cancer Early bowel cancer campaign.

    “We have seen the uptake rate of the bowel screening test increase since the campaign began but there are still too many people not completing and returning their kit. Everyone who is eligible should do the test – it could save their life.”

    Terence O’Kelly, the Scottish Government’s Senior Medical Officer and Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary said:

    “If a tumour is present, just in the bowel wall, it can be cured.

    “I know of many patients who have completed the home screening test, had a positive result, and have gone on to have polyps removed before they develop any further. These individuals have then enjoyed completely normal lives.

    “Clearly not everyone has the same journey or outcome. However, what is clear, is that if detected early, bowel cancer is a form of disease that can be cured.”

    Currently the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme invites all men and women in Scotland aged 50 – 74 to participate in screening every two years.

    The programme was extended in April 2013, so that those over the age of 74 can self-refer every two years by requesting a screening kit through the Scottish Bowel Screening Helpline.

    For information on the screening programme, contact the Scottish Bowel Screening Helpline on 0800 0121 833 or visit www.bowelscreeningtest.org.

  • £90,000 Raised To Support People Living With HIV

    A host of celebrities including, Nigella Lawson, Jim Broadbent, Jemima Khan and Harry Enfield, were among dinner party guests who took part in HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust’s ‘The Supper Club’ fundraiser last night.

    The THT event, which is in its 14th year raised more than £90,000 to support people living with and affected by HIV. On the night guests attended 50 dinner parties at some of London’s most iconic restaurants, including Roast, Wilton’s, Polpo, Aqua Shard, and Scott’s, which all donated a meal in support of the charity.

    Afterwards guests where whisked away to a star studded after party at the Underglobe where they enjoyed entertainment by British singer-song writer Chloe Howl, Britain’s Got Talent Semi-Finalist La Voix and boylesque troop Briefs. Guests were also treated to cocktails by 6 O’Clock Gin and took part in ‘The Supper Club’ silent auction, which boasted an array of bespoke foodie prizes, including a chocolate making master class with acclaimed chocolatier Paul A Young, dinner at home catered by Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, and the chance to create a bespoke brownie flavour with Bad Brownie.
    Sonya Trivedy, Director of Fundraising at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Thank you to everyone who has once again made ‘The Supper Club’ such a huge success and another night to remember. Each year our supporters came out in full force to help us raise awareness for the work that we do – and this year was no different. We are really lucky to have support from such exceptional people, who once again have helped us raise a phenomenal amount for people living with and affected by HIV in the UK ”

  • WATCH | Tyra Shuts Down Homophobic Reaction In ANTM

    And the winner of Ally of the day goes to Tyra Banks as she shuts down latent homophobia.

    Tyra Bank is known for being a brilliant Ally to the LGBT+ community and has shown her support again today in a new video that has surfaced from the latest season of Americas Next Top Model.

    The show, which is in its 21st cycle (season), also features male models.

    Shiz went down when a former American football player Denzel Wells made comments about losing out to a man who wore heals.

    The man wearing the heels was out contestant Will Jardell, 23.

    Although Wells said he didn’t have a problem with gay people, he was uncomfortable that he would have to go home and explain to his friends that he lost to a man in heels.

    During a discussion with Banks, she called him out on his behaviour saying, ‘This is an industry that is predominately female. So when you step into an industry that is predominately a certain sex, you get the stereotype that you are gay.

    ‘Be proud of this industry, and every single male model — gay, straight, heels, corsets, who gives a f**k?’
    ‘I want to take you back 50 years and imagine you overheard Will say, ‘I hope that Denzel guy doesn’t win. Because if that black guy wins, my friends at home are going to say I’m his **Bleeped**,’

  • Polari First Book Prize Awarded To Fairytales For Lost Children

    Diriye Osman has won the Polari First Book Prize for his short story collection, Fairytales for Lost Children, published by Team Angelica Press.

    The British-Somali short story writer, essayist, critic and visual artist was last night [Wednesday 8th October] presented with a cheque for £1,000 by Vincent Francois, Chair of the UK LGBT Network and Regional Head of Audit, Societe Generale, at the Polari Literary Salon at the London Literature Festival.

    The Polari First Book Prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in the UK in English within the twelve months of the deadline for submissions (this year 1st February 2014). Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission.

    This year, for the first time, the five shortlisted books are on sale at selected WH Smiths travel outlets across the country.
    Paul Burston, Chair of judges, said, ‘With such a strong shortlist, deciding on a winner was incredibly difficult. The Polari First Book Prize is about celebrating voices which are often ignored or difficult to hear. Writing as a black gay African man from a Muslim background, Osman dazzled us with the wide range of literary voices in this stunning short story collection. We look forward to his next book and feel confident that he will dazzle us again.’

    The judging panel for the Polari First Book Prize 2014 consists of author, journalist and host of Polari Paul Burston, (Chair); critic and broadcaster Bidisha; author and former Culture Editor for Channel 4 News Matt Cain; literary critic and broadcaster Suzi Feay; author and former Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank Rachel Holmes and VG Lee, author and comedian.

    Fairytales for Lost Children is narrated by people constantly on the verge of self-revelation. These characters – young, gay and lesbian Somalis – must navigate the complexities of family, identity and the immigrant experience as the tumble towards freedom. Set in Kenya, Somalia and South London, these stories are imbued with pathos, passion and linguistic playfulness, marking the arrival of a singular new voice in contemporary fiction.

    ‘At a time when homosexuality is still illegal in most of Africa, and barely features in contemporary African fiction, this book is a welcome surprise … At a time when African writing is on the rise, Osman stands above the crowd.’ The Independent

    ‘East Africa. South London. Queer. Displaced. Mentally ill. My excitement over Osman and his writing comes, in part, out of delight at the impossibility of categorisation.’ Daily Telegraph
    The 2014 shortlisted titles were:

    I Am Nobody’s Nigger by Dean Atta (Westbourne Press)

    Petite Mort by Beatrice Hitchman (Serpent’s Tail)

    Fairytales for Lost Children by Diriye Osman (Team Angelica)

    God’s Other Children – A London Memoir by Vernal W. Scott (self-published)

    The Rubbish Lesbian by Sarah Westwood (Mimwood Press)

  • More And More Men Want Pain Free Manscaping

    After years of controversial rhetoric on the reasons women get their body hair removed, the conversation and focus is once again shifting towards men.

    According to a new report out today, record numbers of men are feeling under pressure when it comes to managing their body hair. ‘Manscaping’ – media slang for body hair management for men – is on the rise again with half of British males saying they feel under pressure to groom their body hair. Celebrities such as David Beckham continue to fuel the cult for a cleaner and hair free body.

    It’s a trend which is reflected in the growing number of men seeking laser hair removal at Courthouse Clinics. Recent statistics on the breakdown of in-house treatments revealed a 156 percent increase in the number of men getting permanent hair removal since 2009, particularly with men aged 18-35 (59 percent). Almost half are looking to de-fuzz their back or shoulders, 20 percent their chest or abdomen, and 15 percent get rid of hair on their cheek and beard areas.

    A survey in 2012 showed that 77% of men aged 18-34 admitted to a bit of manscaping, with an incredible 97% saying that hey often took the razor to their down under region. 9% admitted to shaving their legs.

    Dr Patrick Bowler, Medical Director of Courthouse Clinics comments, ‘Men are increasingly expressing a desire for a hair-free body while looking for less time-consuming methods for body hair maintenance – just like their female counterparts. Advanced technology now means that hair removal can take less than 20 minutes with a treatment such as Alma Lasers’ Soprano Ice, with no pulling, tugging or ripping of the hair. It goes a long way to explaining the rise in popularity for laser hair removal – what was once a painful process is now a gentle treatment, especially compared to waxing which, apart from shaving, was seen as the only alternative for men.’

    Makers of the Soprano ICE, from Alma Lasers, say it is the only laser hair removal solution for year-round application, suitable for use on all skin types, and all types of hair, too. Unlike traditional laser technology, patients who tired Soprano Ice reported it as almost zero pain – a first for laser hair technology.

    Soprano ICE cools the skin with a sapphire tip to prevent any burns to the skin as the laser penetrates the dermis. This means patients feel no discomfort at any point throughout the procedure, and still get the best possible results. Multiple clinical studies conducted by leading dermatologists confirm Soprano ICE’s status as safer and equally or more effective compared to other lasers. Soprano ICE can also be used to treat small and difficult to target areas like the eyebrows, nose and ears making it the ideal treatment for men.

    Prices start at £35 for a single treatment; courses from £959 (courses available as 3/6/8 treatments)