THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • The UK gets its first permanent rainbow crossing in Lambeth

    The UK gets its first permanent rainbow crossing in Lambeth

    The London borough of Lambeth has become the first in the UK to install a permanent rainbow crossing.

    2019-08-16 The UK’s first permanent Rainbow Crossing opened today (16 August) outside the Herne Hill entrance to Brockwell Park, Lambeth. The crossing is a celebration of Lambeth and London’s LGBT+ community with an eye-catching rainbow crossing spanning four lanes of major roads., and celebrates the borough’s inclusive nature and creative culture. Speakers were: Cllr Ibrahim Dogus, Lambeth Mayor, Cllr Sonia Winifred, Faith Henry, a young local resident, and guests were also treated to a vocal performance from singer Almaz. www.magnus-andersson.com

    The London borough of Lambeth has unveiled its brand new rainbow crossing – a planned permanent feature on Herne Hill, which aims to bring visibility to the LGBT+ community in the area.

    According to the BBC, a ‘Walk the Rainbow’ messaging will appear throughout Lambert, guiding people to the Herne Hill gate at Brockwell Park to visit the crossing, a council spokesperson said.

    People have been invited to share images on social media with the hashtags #WeAreLambeth and #HerneHillRainbow.

    2019-08-16 The UK’s first permanent Rainbow Crossing opened today (16 August) outside the Herne Hill entrance to Brockwell Park, Lambeth. The crossing is a celebration of Lambeth and London’s LGBT+ community with an eye-catching rainbow crossing spanning four lanes of major roads., and celebrates the borough’s inclusive nature and creative culture. Speakers were: Cllr Ibrahim Dogus, Lambeth Mayor, Cllr Sonia Winifred, Faith Henry, a young local resident, and guests were also treated to a vocal performance from singer Almaz.
    www.magnus-andersson.com

    Cllr Sonia Winifred, Lambeth Cabinet Member for Equalities and Culture, said: “This is a colourful and fun symbol of Lambeth’s inclusivity.

    “We’re proud of our LGBT+ community and have a tradition of championing equality and LGBT+ rights – this crossing celebrates that and is a physical example of our bold and progressive thinking.

    “What better time to unveil the rainbow crossing than in the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. We’ve come a long way, and in Lambeth, we’re proud to be leading the way.”

  • Apprentice star Sanjay Sood-Smith just got married

    Apprentice star Sanjay Sood-Smith just got married

    Apprentice star Sanjay got married to his husband in a colour celebration of love.

    Taking to social media, TV star  Sanjay Sood-Smith, who appeared in season 10 of The Apprentice, revealed that he never thought, growing up, that he’d see the day that he’d be able to marry the man of his dreams.

    The pair have been engaged since 2017 when they were holidaying in the South Aegean region in Greece. The couple returned to the idyllic area for their wedding.

    He wrote, “This week I got married to my beautiful husband. I feel privileged to have been able to get married when I grew up thinking that I never would be able to.”

    He also thanked his place of work, the charity Stonewall, for their part in making same-sex marriage a reality in the UK.

    He then shared two amazing photos from his day, which saw him and his partner were both dressed in traditional light coloured Sherwani attire adorned with matching flower garlands and another where the duo’s wedding guests let off a rainbow paint explosion behind them.

     

    https://twitter.com/sanjaysoodsmith/status/1163023866756849664

    Stars and supporters were quick to congratulate the couple with Gogglebox‘s Stephen congratulating the pair, while Gaydio’s Emma Goswell, wrote, “Oh wow! Congratulations darling!”.

  • India Willoughby: Involving kids in drag ‘opens them up to abuse and grooming’

    India Willoughby: Involving kids in drag ‘opens them up to abuse and grooming’

    Celebrity Big Brother star India Willougby has slammed the idea of kids doing drag.

    (C) MiniKweenKeeKee / INSTAGRAM

    India Willougby has spoken out about children performing in drag, saying that drag is “no place for young kids”, before adding that it is a “slippy slope” which could open them to ‘all sorts of abuse and grooming’.

    Speaking about Kween Kee Kee who at the age of nine has become one of the world’s most famous drag children, India was clear in her objection to the notion of children getting involved with this type of performance art.

    In a tweet, the news presenter wrote “Can no-one see why this is wrong?” in connection to a story about how a nine-year-old drag queen, has become a hit on Instagram.

    India continued, “Drag is dripping in sexual innuendo. No place for young kids. Involving kids is a slippy slope. Open to all sorts of abuse, grooming etc.”.

    https://twitter.com/IndiaWilloughby/status/1162358720808083458

    India also asked that people drop the connection between drag and transgender people, adding, “Despite the best efforts of Stonewall and sections of LGBT to make it so, the two are completely unrelated”.

    During her time on Celebrity Big Brother, the series which also starred Courtney Act, India Willoughby made it known that she was phobic of drag queens.

  • GoFundMe page created for the guy with the “never ending” erection

    GoFundMe page created for the guy with the “never ending” erection

    A man who has had a permanent erection for over a week now has a crowd funder.

    A gay man who has a permanent erection after having a drug injected into his penis by a one night stand, hook up, who happened to be nurse, has had a crowd funder created for him by two friends, to help create awareness of his condition, which is called Priapism.

    Danny checked in a hospital when his erection wouldn’t subside. According to reports, he took a viagra before going clubbing but ended up hooking up with a nurse who then injected his penis was an “erection enhancer” he told Pink News.

    His condition has left him “screaming in pain” and could suffer from permanent damage to his dick. Doctors have given the odds of around 50 per cent that he’ll ever be able to have an erection again.

    “he lost a lot of blood and may have been close to death”

    Medical professionals have tried numerous ways to calm his erection including blood-thinning drugs.

    Two friends of Danny, Paul Jones and Mariana Ungaretti have organised a fundraiser for him, writing,

    “Danny has been suffering with a potentially life-threatening priapism for more than 10 days.

    He has been in a lot of pain, last week he lost a lot of blood and may have been close to death. He is being brave, focused and is a survivor! But however positive he’s trying to be, he’s also traumatised and often crying with extreme stress and anxiety.

    “Some days he’s been in so much pain, that he has blacked out / fallen unconscious, even with strong pain relief.

    “His aim is to raise awareness about Priapism; A misunderstood, painful and dangerous condition that is affecting the gay/queer community increasingly more each year”.

    Ouch.

    The fundraiser is aiming to reach 5000 Euros, and is created just under €1000. If you’d like to donate, click here.

     

     

     

  • Almost a quarter of gay and bi men unable to get access to PrEP via the NHS

    New data shows that nearly a quarter of gay and bisexual men who tried to access PrEP via the NHS IMPACT trial were unable to in the past year.

    PrEP pills
    (C) marcbruxel Depositphotos

    Data from AIDSMAP shows that 22 per cent of people who tried to access PrEP via the IMPACT trial were unable to secure the HIV prevention medication in the last year. Those who live outside London were more likely to fail in their attempt to access the drug.

    The AIDSMAP statement stated that the importance of access to PrEP was underscored by the fact that 82 per cent of those who tried to access had condomless sex within a six month period.

    The survey was answered by 2389 people during six weeks between 17 May and 1 July 2019. It was conducted by Public Health England in collaboration with PrEPster and iwantPrEPnow.

    Of those who answered the survey, 92 per cent identified as gay, 6 per cent bisexual and 2 per cent who ID’d as non-binary or transgender. 86 per cent of those who answered ID’d as white 14 per cent ID’d as BAME.

    Marc Thompson, Health Improvement Lead at Terrence Higgins Trust, said, “PrEP is a key tool in the fight against ending HIV transmissions. These new findings demonstrate that PrEP isn’t just stopping HIV it is having an overwhelming positive impact on people’s lives. That’s so important to remember as there remains far too many people unable to access this HIV game-changer.

    “The impact of not increasing places on the trial has been laid bare in this survey, with nearly one in five people who want to access PrEP unable to do so. While nearly a quarter of people who had been purchasing PrEP privately having to stop due to being unable to pay for the anti-HIV drug. People should not be forced to make a decision that ultimately increases their risk of HIV. That’s why there must be increased places on the trial and immediate action towards providing routine access to PrEP.

    “It is concerning that only half of people who have purchased PrEP privately have undergone the necessary kidney function tests before or while taking PrEP. Despite the side affects of taking PrEP being minimal for many users, it’s vital anyone wanting to or currently taking PrEP has the relevant screenings. This puts even greater urgency on our calls for PrEP to be embedded in routine HIV prevention services.”

    What is PrEP?

    CREDIT: © garyphoto Depositphotos

    Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, it is a drug treatment protocol using a prescription medicine called Truvada and has been shown in a recent trial to be highly effective in preventing HIV in gay and bisexual men, when taken daily and used in combination with other infection prevention measures.

    Truvada contains two medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine) and is already routinely used in combination with other medicines to treat existing HIV infection.

     

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Iris Theatre

    THEATRE REVIEW | The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Iris Theatre

    ★★★★★ | The Hunchback of Notre Dame

    Covent Garden is now Paris in 1831. Well, it is for 150 minutes when St. Paul’s Church in the heart of Covent Garden plays, to great effect, Notre Dame cathedral in an excellent outdoor production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

    Victor Hugo’s classic tale of survival, injustice, and love is played out in the grounds of the church by the actors from Iris Theatre. They are an award-winning theatre company created in 2007 to produce site-specific work centred around it’s Covent Garden home, St. Paul’s Church.

    A priest and a hunchback both fall for the mysterious and beautiful Esmerelda who solely longs to find her long-lost mother. When the unhappy pair try to take matters into their own hands they set off a chain of events that no one can control.

    Revolution then sweeps over the city of Paris and the mob breaks against the walls of the cathedral. Will the hunchback find true love? Will the priest save his soul? And will it take the people of Paris to save Esmerelda?

    Benjamin Polya’s adaptation is superb as the scenes move around the church courtyard and then brilliantly the most dramatic scenes of the play take place inside the church, perfect timing as the outdoors gets a bit chilly and the darkeness and smoke in the church adds great dramatic effect to the finale of the play.

    This very affordable production is for the entire family.

    The Hunchback Of Notre plays at the Iris Theatre until 1st September 2019, www.iristheatre.com

  • Jonathan Harvey had the perfect clap back for “gay sin” bigot

    Jonathan Harvey had the perfect clap back for “gay sin” bigot

    When one the world’s most famous gay authors makes a clap back against religious bigotry towards gay people – he does it well.

     

    Beautiful Thing writer, Jonathan Harvey had a few words for a person on Twitter who claimed that giving into sin, and in particular being gay, could “ruin” us if we let that sin “rule” us.

    In the Tweet, Lisa Bedrick, who describes herself as having a BA in English and a “minor in Bible” wrote, “Maybe gay people are born gay. We are All born with an inclination toward some sin, but we can either have self control over that sin or we can let it rule us and ruin our lives”.

    https://twitter.com/angel28kc/status/1159958159689166848

    The Tweet has gone viral with over 7,000 responses to it.

    Gimme Gimme Gimme creator Jonathan Harvey wasn’t having any of it and clapped back, “Jesus would be ashamed of you dear. Your humble braggery about your perfection is a fuckin sin dear. Pipe down.

    He then tweeted Lisa directly, adding, “I’m a bit worried about your claim that Jesus loves you. I’m not sure he will if you spread incorrect information like homosexuality is caused by child abuse. He’ll see that as bearing false witness and the bible considers that a no-no.”

    However, Jonathan wasn’t the only celeb to get involved, Lord Michael Cashman wrote, “Take your opinion about other peoples lives wrap it in tinfoil and place it in the fridge of your god and if you really are a true believer allow them to decide.

    “You commit the ultimate blasphemy by sitting in the place of your god and telling and judging others. Move along”.

    While Drag superstar Lady Bunny, wrote, “Maybe some straight people are born straight. Even though they’re born with an inclination to yell at sports games with hot dogs on their breath while wearing fanny packs & Uggs, gays pray that they’ll exercise fashion self control b4 they ruin the world!”

    “Is homosexuality caused by a fear of having children?”

    Inexplicably, Ms Bedrick followed the tweets a few other questions and comments which were beyond EXTRA.

    One read, “This might make some of you mad but I think this is a valid question. Is homosexuality caused by a fear of having children?”

    In another, she said that she thought that homosexuality was caused by sexual abuse, saying “Regarding homosexuality, my heart goes out to those who are because I could have been there. I think it is caused by being sexually abused, and I was. But All things are possible with God. You might not like the opposite sex due to fear from sexual abuse, but you can overcome. ;)”

    Jonathan had a response to this doozy of Tweet, saying “The only thing I’ve ever been abused by is your humongous ego, y dozy melt. Yours, a gay.”

     

     

     

     

  • Disgraced Rugby Player Israel Folau wants $10 million

    The disgraced rugby player, Israel Folau has launched a $10 million lawsuit against Rugby Australia.

    Israel Folau was dismissed from his position at Rugby Australia earlier this year after a series of homophobic tweets surfaced. At the time he was one of the highest-paid sportspeople in Australian sport.

    In April the Australian Rugby Union served Israel Folau with a contract ending breach notice, following on from offensive social media posts, one of which said that “hell awaits” gay people and bashing transgender people, using his Christian beliefs as a defence for his views.

    In June Folau and Rugby Australia entered mediation at a Fair Work Commission hearing. There was no resolution after a near four-hour meeting.

    Now Folau has apparently filed a lawsuit and wants a cool $10 million in compensation from Rugby Australia to cover the loss of sponsorship and potential future contracts.

    Free Speech, Religious Freedoms or both?

    Under the Fair Work Act, it is not legal to sack an employee for an employee’s religion. Folau’s suit is a test case in this area and could determine “whether the word ‘religion’ should be interpreted to include protection for an employee’s religious expression and activities” according to employment layer Josh Bornstein.

    Many of Folau’s supporters have raised concerns over whether the player’s right to free speech was curbed.

  • Actor Joshua Rush comes out as bisexual

    Actor Joshua Rush comes out as bisexual

    Disney actor, Joshua Rush has come out and used his platform to bring attention to internalised homophobia, the life expectancy of trans women of colour and finding the courage to come out.

    Joshua Rush as his character Cyrus Goodman in the Disney show, Andi Mack.

    Joshua Rush, who starred in the Disney show, Andi Mack has come out as bisexual. The 17-year-old actor, who turns 18 in December,  became the first openly gay character in a Disney show, when, his character Cyrus Goodman uttered the words, “I’m Gay”.

    Embed from Getty Images

    The actor came out in a series of tweets,

    He took to Twitter to write, “I’m bi. And now that I’ve said that, I have a few things to rant about. There are more important things to talk about than me liking a whole bunch of genders, but I do want to share a few things with you guys.

    “I saw so many of you watch Cyrus come out and said “Hey! I can be me!” How ironic, isn’t it, that me, playing that character, never had mustered up that courage?

    “Instead of feeling the courage to tell you today that I am an out and proud bisexual man because of the character I played for four years, I feel that courage thinking of all of you, who felt emboldened by Cyrus to come out.

    “I had a close friend of mine come out to me in fifth grade. FIFTH GRADE! That was well before I had any clue of my own identity and orientation. I suffered with some level of my own internalized homophobia even while playing the first openly gay character on Disney Channel.

    “Release it into the world”

    Embed from Getty Images

    “I stuffed the existential crisis of talking about my sexual orientation into a box in my mind for years. Today, I release it into the world.

    “Being bi isn’t all of my identity”

    The star also used his coming out as an opportunity to bring attention to the life expectancy of trans women of colour – who’s life expectancy is just 35-years-old in some parts of the world.

    He continued,  “Being bi isn’t all of my identity, nor is it the most important part of my identity. Bi erasure and issues like it are important, but trans women of color still have a life expectancy of THIRTY FIVE YEARS and that is absolutely unacceptable.

    “So. I want to encourage you all to donate to GLAAD. Our show wouldn’t have existed in the form that it did without them, but also because their hard work in furthering acceptance in media helps an uncountable number of people”.

  • Porn star Silas dies just days before his 26th birthday

    Porn star Silas dies just days before his 26th birthday

    A porn star who filmed scenes with Military Classified and Cocksure Men has died at the age of 25, of an apparent drug overdose.

    Silas, who was known to film for the studios Military Classified and Cocksure Men has died after an apparent drug overdose just days before his 26th birthday. He also worked for Raw Castings and Active Duty.

    The star died on the 8th July, but the news of his death was made public last week.

    The news was broken by Rob Navarro who owns the Military Classified studio, who wrote, “With a heavy heart I bring this disturbing news, one of my models, Stephen Morgan, Jr. (SILAS) passed away on July 8, 2019, of an apparent overdose, he was 25. In my 15 yrs online I’ve only sent 2 tweets like this…it’s never easy…RIP Silas, your beauty will live forever now”.

    https://twitter.com/mclassified/status/1154430081302851584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1154430081302851584&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.queerty.com%2Fadult-film-performer-silas-dead-25-20190729

    An obituary for the performer, who’s name was Stephen, said,

    Stephen 25, of Orlando, Florida passed away Monday, July 8, 2019. He was born on July 23, 1993 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Stephen is survived by his mother, Kathleen Lahr (husband, John Lahr, Sr.); father, Stephen E. Morgan, Sr.; brother, John Lahr, Jr.; brother, Damian Lahr; sister, Carissa Wheeler; sister, Amanda Ross; sister, Olivia Lahr; and maternal grandparents, Douglas and Connie Artin.

    Services will be held privately at a later date.

  • South Wales police denies making any stipulations over who can attend Rhondda Pride

    Police in South Wales have stated that they have never stipulated who can and can’t attend.

    In an initial email sent by organisers of Rhondda Pride to Leathermen Cymru, they alleged that South Wales police had made stipulations about who could and couldn’t attend the pride.

    South Wales Police have set the record straight by releasing a statement saying, “just to confirm, our role at events such as this is public safety. We have played no part whatsoever in stipulating who attends”.

    The pride has received a huge backlash over a now-deleted statement, in which the pride warned that “no bondage or sexualised costumes” were allowed as they were “trying to make this a safe space for under 18 LGBTQ+ individuals and families and a place for parents of young LGBTQ+ people who want to understand and support their children”.

    “Picking and choosing”

    The UK Pride Organisers Network said that it did not support the erasure of any part of the LGBT+ community. It went on to blast the event for “picking and choosing” who is and isn’t allowed to be at the event”.

    “We don’t support erasure of any part of our community. Rhonnda Pride you are NOT a Pride, you are a family fun day that is picking and choosing who is and isn’t allowed to be at your event. There is NO Pride in Exclusion! We are 1! #WeStandWithEveryone Together we are UKPON!

     

    We may have to pull our event due to the actions of the BDSM community. This is a tragedy.

    In a statement to THEGAYUK.com a spokesperson for the event said,

    “We should start by saying that we are a small valleys Pride with a capacity for 500 maximum people plus a market. We only asked for no charity or political stalls due to the fact that we don’t have enough room to hold them. This was not exclusion this was practical. As for the Leathermen we have never banned leather, that is ridiculous. What we have requested is due to the family friendly nature of the event and the fact our headline act is 13 years old no BDSM wear or sexual costumes be worn. I don’t see any issues with wanting to be family friendly however we may have to pull our event due to the actions of the BDSM community. This is a tragedy for the LGBTQ + children, adolescents, teenagers, young adults and families who wanted to support an event of this nature.”