THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • Madame is back and wants you as a new recruit

    Jump Start Madame’s Comeback tour!

    The sassy, outspoken and loveable “old broad” is calling on all her fans, old and young, to rally around and get her back ON TOP where she belongs. Do YOUR part and Go to her Indiegogo page at www.indiegogo.com/projects/jump-start-madame-s-comeback-tour then pick a “thank you” level; make sure you check out Madame’s NEW music video Jump Start My Comeback Tour, a tongue in cheek song parodying the hit song I’m so Fancy in TRUE Madame style.

    A bit about Madame (in case you didn’t know): Madame was created by the legendary Wayland Flowers in the mid-1960s. Flowers’s first big break was an appearance on the The Andy Williams Show. The character of Madame is an “outrageous old broad” who entertains with double entendres and witty comebacks. Bedecked in fabulous evening wear and “summer diamonds” (“Some are diamonds; some are not”), Madame’s look is based on movie stars such as Gloria Swanson. Madame is rumoured to be based on a Washington, DC gay icon, waitress and restaurant hostess Margo MacGregor. Madame’s many TV appearances included Laugh-In; a long run on the game show Hollywood Squares (replacing Paul Lynde in The Centre Square); a recurring comedy skit on Solid Gold; a regular on ABC’s short-lived summer replacement show called Keep on Truckin’, various TV guest spots; and as the star of her own syndicated 1982 sitcom, Madame’s Place, which in itself was the precursor to every reality TV show out there!

    Flowers and Madame were in the centre square on the final NBC episode of Hollywood Squares in June 1980; host Peter Marshallasked Madame the final game question of the daytime series, which was: “Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss lived in the same place. Where did they all live?” Madame’s “comic” answer: “At the YMCA!” Then her “serious” answer: Germany. (The correct answer: Austria.)

  • Gay Artist Channels Hate Crime Into New Exhibit

    An artist who was homophobically beaten is set to open an art exhibition in October.

    In 2008 Andrew Salgado and his partner were attacked in a hate crime. Since then his art has become a political catalyst, evolving his vision of masculine identity. His work is so admired he has amassed over 180,000 Facebook fans.

    His latest solo exhibition is called Storytelling and will take place at the Beers Contemporary in East London on the 4th October.

    He has worked actively to raise money through donations to LGBTQ charities such as Terrence Higgins Trust and Diversity Role Models.

    Noted by Saatchi Online as one of “twelve artists to invest in today”, Salgado’s dynamic paintings have earned a Facebook following of over 175,000 fans (and growing daily). Esteemed critic Edward Lucie Smith has lauded him as “a dazzlingly skillful advocate for painting,” and he has received commissions from major retailers such as Harvey Nichols and fashion industry staple Rootstein Display Mannequins. Salgado has also been selected for inclusion in the forthcoming book 100 Painters of Tomorrow, set for publication next month by Thames & Hudson.

    Storytelling [SOLO] – Beers Contemporary. London, UK. October 4 – November 22, 2014.

  • Rainbow Jews seek crowd funding for its work

    Liberal Judaism’s ground-breaking LGBT history project Rainbow Jews is looking to raise at least £5,000 via online crowdfunding to continue its great work.

    During the last two years, this unique volunteer-led initiative has amassed more than 40 personal testimonies from British LGBT Jews; exploring the struggles, changes and issues experienced by the community from the 1950s to today.

    The Rainbow Jews collection, including documents and a digitised oral history, is held at the London Metropolitan Archives.

    An exhibition was also created and put on display at the London School of Economics and Liberal Judaism Biennial Weekend earlier this year. The exhibition is now set to tour England, starting in Leicester on August 31 before moving on to Birmingham and Liverpool.
    Rainbow Jews Project manager Surat Knan said: “We believe in community spirit and want to keep making a difference. This is why we are asking our friends and supporters to help us continue this legacy.

    “We’ve had so much interest in the exhibition from all over the UK, youth groups want us to run sessions and new people have asked us to record their stories – but for all this we need funds.

    “Please donate, so we can make sure that our history will not become our past.”

    Donation can be made until 22 September via http://igg.me/at/rainbowjewslegacy or directly to Liberal Judaism.

  • Janoskians Unleash Themselves… Musically Speaking

    The cheeky lads from Australia are about about unleash their newest song, That’s What She Said…

    The brand new single is called That’s What She Said and you can currently pre-order it from the iTunes store, it’s due out on the 9th September.

    For the unfamiliar, in 2011, THE JANOSKIANS mayhem started brewing when the group uploaded their first ‘Awkward Train Situations’ video to YouTube. As the fan base grew, they continually released hilarious and disruptive content, gaining over 2 million YouTube subscribers and accruing more than 200 million combined views.

    They are currently in the UK on their Got Cake Tour – they’ve had sold out dates in Birmingham, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin. Tonight they are in Manchester and in London on the 5th and 6th.

    Watch their previous single This Freakin’ Song

  • BREAKING NEWS | Gay icon Joan Rivers dies, aged 81

    Joan Rivers has passed away after being on life support in Mount Sinai Hospital. She had suffered a cardiac arrest in New York last week. 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”.

    ‘My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.’

    Joan Rivers was due to tour the UK in comedy tour in October.

  • X Factor Star Marcus Collins To Co-Host LGBT BAME Media Festival

    X Factor star Marcus Collins to co-host queer cultural diversity media festival of films, conversations & performances.

    Queer Media this October will host Fusion to celebrate the stories of the LGBT Black, Asian and ethnic minority community with conversations with LGBT media professionals, interspersed with LGBT themed short films and performances. As part of Black History Month and partnered with UK Black Pride our aim is to inspire positive LGBT stories and promote LGBT visibility in the media.

    Fusion at the Compass Room at The Lowry, Manchester, Sunday 19th October 2014, 12pm to 8pm with registration from 11am.

    FILMS : CONVERSATIONS : PERFORMANCES
    Fusion asks can storytelling really empower people to create positive social change within their community?

    ‘Help us develop a voice for a new 21st century LGBT community through telling narratives of wholeness, connection and power,’ said Queer Media director Jamie Starboisky. “We want to touch people’s lives by telling empowering and inspirational stories through films, conversations and performances. Ultimately our aim is to promote understanding in society through improving visibility and representation of LGBT people, characters and stories in the media.”

    Being an interactive event with Q&A sessions, live video streaming and a Twitter wall the costs of the technology are high, meaning we are reaching out for people to support us through our Indiegogo campaign which recently launched.

  • House Of Fraser goes gay!

    We love it when big companies show their gay colours…

    In their latest style video, stalwart dept. store kings – House of Fraser have gone a bit gay with their style guide and they’re calling it Mr & Mr. with the caption, ‘You’ve found the perfect man, now you need the perfect wedding day wardrobe. Gentlemen, it’s time to think outside the closet and take him up the aisle in style…’

  • Scott Mills is looking forward to the Strictly fake tan

    TV and radio presenter Scott Mills has confirmed he is to star in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

    Scott confirmed the news live on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show this morning with Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood in the studio, surprising fellow presenter Chris Stark with the announcement.

    Readers of TheGayUK might remember Scott from his 2011 documentary The World’s Worst Place To Be Gay, in which he travelled to Uganda. We also had the pleasure of interviewing him in 2012 about Coming Out.

    Award-winning Scott has been entertaining the nation on Radio 1 for over 15 years and is one of the longest-serving and most popular presenters on the network. He currently hosts the weekday early afternoon show on the station from 1pm to 4pm and the weekly Official Chart Update show. On television he has recently presented The National Lottery Live on BBC One and also hosts annual coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest on BBC Three.

    Scott said, ‘My listeners are so used to me playing pranks that they’re probably going to think this is just another one. It’s not, I really am doing this! I’m honoured be part of the biggest show on television and hoping this could be the start of a brand-new skill for me. When I was younger, my Nan danced the foxtrot and waltz and it would be great for me to learn those dances, but I will be out of my comfort zone. Whatever happens, I’m really looking forward to the weekly fake tans!’

    Scott joins Frankie Bridge, Judy Murray, Alison Hammond, Thom Evans, Simon Webbe, Mark Wright, Sunetra Sarker, Jake Wood and Steve Backshall in this year’s battle for the ballroom.

  • WATCH | Out And Proud Indie Musician Releases New Video

    How good can it be to feel bad?

    The new music video from out solo artist Brett Gleason, explores just how beautiful Destruction can be.

    Gun fire and smoke give way to White Flags and rainbows as Brett Gleason claws his way to freedom, his captor & savior his own self.

    ‘Destruction’ is the Fifth & Final Music Video from Brett Gleason’s self titled debut record. Here is a playlist of all 5

    “Brett Gleason” is available now on iTunes or the CD/Download from BandCamp: http://brettgleason.bandcamp.com/album/brett-gleason

  • Britney Supports Her Gay Fans

    Y’all – We loves Britney.

    Britney has known adversity and struggle, so when a gay fan wrote her a letter to tell her that she had given him the courage to come out, she replied in the most perfect way.

    Super fan David LeCours received this letter from the Work Bitch singer:

    LeCours explained on his Instagram account that the letter ‘helped me get through a real tough period in my life these past couple of months, and how I wanted to end it all but she made me be strong. As I was leaving the building where meet and greet was held, Britney’s body guard ran and stopped me and said Britney requested my address so she could respond because my letter meant so much to her. Thank you for everything Britney. I wouldn’t be able to be so confident and open about my sexuality if your music and you didn’t help me.’

    Brilliant move from one of our modern gay icons!

    Now we wait with bated breath to hear from the Westboro Baptist Church that they’ll picket whatever she does next.

  • Jack Laugher shows off toned torso

    Diving hottie and Chris Mears’ bestie, Jack Laugher has posted a picture of himself, looking slimmer and more buff than ever.

    Jack Laugher certainly knows how to make an impact. He posted this picture on his Instagram showing a remarkably toned body, looking slim and healthy whilst on holiday.

    Laugher who is currently on holiday in Morocco captioned the pic, ‘Nice relaxing day by the pool :)’

    Good for him! Keep the pictures coming!

    Last month Jack and Chris both took a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.