THEGAYUK

Author: News Desk

  • 5 ways to protect your skin from sun damage this pride season

    According to Cancer Research UK, malignant melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and 1 in 54 people will be diagnosed with malignant melanoma during their lifetime.

    Silhouette of muscle boy on beautiful hot background

    Around 15,400 new cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in the UK each year; that’s around 42 new cases diagnosed every day. Yet 86% of these could have been prevented.

    So here are five ways you can protect your skin this Pride season

    1. Use sunscreen – even on cloudy days

    via GIPHY

    Applying sunscreen to your skin before you go outside during the summer months and on cloudy days (UV rays get through clouds) helps reduce the risk of skin damage. Sunscreens are useful for protecting our skin from the sun’s rays, but will not protect us completely from sun damage on their own. Use them together with shade or clothing to avoiding sunburn.If you have fair skin or if you burn very easily, you will need the highest level of protection. Even if your skin tends to tan rather than burn, it’s still important to take care in the sun and use sunscreen.If you have naturally brown or black skin, the extra melanin pigment in the skin cells may provide a bit more protection against harm from UV rays but sun protection is still necessary.

    When choosing sunscreen, you should:

    • Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. The SPF provides protection against burning and UVB damage.
    • Look for sunscreens that are labelled ‘broad-spectrum’ as this shows they protect you from UVB and UVA damage. This is shown using a star rating system, so look for at least 4 or 5 stars for good protection.
    • Apply sunscreen liberally to clean dry skin, ideally before other skincare products.
    • Apply approximately two teaspoons of sunscreen to cover your arms, neck and face, and up to two tablespoons to cover your body.
    • Follow the manufactures instructions and re-apply frequently
    • Re-apply after you’ve been in water. Sunscreen can be easily washed, rubbed or sweated off and even sunscreens that claim to be ‘waterproof’ should be reapplied after going in the water.
    • Don’t forget to check the expiry date – most sunscreens have a shelf life of two to three years.
    • Don’t store sunscreens in very hot places as extreme heat can ruin their protective chemicals.
    1. Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm

    via GIPHY

    Midday hours are when the sun is at its hottest and highest in the sky. Find shade under trees, umbrellas, canopies or move indoors. A simple way to find out when the sun’s rays are at their strongest is to look at your shadow – if it’s shorter than your height, this means that the sun’s UV rays are strong and you need to be particularly careful.

    1. Cover up

    via GIPHY

    When there’s no shade around, cover exposed areas, such as your arms or legs (close-weave clothes offer the most protection against UV rays) and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head.

    1. Wear protective sunglasses

    via GIPHY

    Overexposure to UV rays can damage the eyes too. Too much UV can lead to cataracts and rare types of eye cancer.

    When choosing sunglasses look for the following:

    • The ‘CE Mark’, which shows they conform to European standards
    • The British Standard (BS EN 1836)
    • A UV 400 label or 100% UV protection label.
    1. Avoid sunbeds

    via GIPHY

    Sunbeds are a risk factor as it exposes the skin to high levels of radiation. Ongoing concern about the use of sunbeds has led to the use of them being banned by law to anyone aged under-18 in the UK. If you’re keen to have a tan, the safest way to achieve it is to use fake tan.

    For more information on staying safe in the sun, please visit AXA PPP healthcare.

  • No police officer to face discipline over the investigation of the Stephen Port serial killings

    No police officer to face discipline over the investigation of the Stephen Port serial killings

    The Independent Office for Police Conduct has confirmed that none of the 17 police officers who were being investigated, working the Stephen Port serial killings will be disciplined.

    Stephen Port
    CREDIT: met police

    The IOPC has confirmed that none of the 17 officers it investigated over the Stephen Port murder investigation will be disciplined.

    In March 2017 the IOPC announced it had launched an investigation of 17 officers into the service’s response to the deaths of 4 men, Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor murdered by Stephen Port.

    Port was convicted at the Old Bailey in London in 2019 where the judge said that Port had carried out the murders to “satisfy his lust” for sex with men who were rendered unconscious.

    According to the Barking And Dagenham Post, an IOPC spokesman said, “While we agreed none of the officers involved in these investigations may have breached professional standards justifying disciplinary proceedings, we will be making a number of recommendations to the Metropolitan Police to address some of the systemic failings our investigation identified.

    “We have advised the families of Port’s victims and the officers involved that the performance of nine officers fell below the standard required. They will now be required to improve their performance.”

    None of the families of the victims have commented on the announcement.

  • Broadcaster Iain Lee comes out as bisexual

    Journalist, broadcaster and I’m A Celeb star, Iain Lee comes out as bisexual.

    Iain Lee, who came third in 2017’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here has come out as bisexual while on his TalkRadio show.  The broadcaster had been talking about seeing a therapist after a serious car accident and the breakdown of his marriage saying, “He’s helped me realise that I’m probably bisexual,

    “So I guess I’m coming out. This is me coming out, I suppose is how they would call it, at the age of 46, and I’m terrified by it.”

    Embed from Getty Images

    Taking to social media, Iain, wrote, “This week I kind of came out on air as bi and the support has been nuts. So like thanks. I’ll probably delete this tweet as I still feel embarrassed and ashamed and weird but I’m working on it.”

    https://twitter.com/iainlee/status/1146490792300728321

    He then joked about who he needed to pay his “gay subs” too.

    Stars and fans were quick to congratulate Iain, with Big Brother‘s Luke Anderson saying, “The strength it takes to come out as who you really are is phenomenal, congratulations Iain 🙂 be the real you!”

    While author Jonathan Harvey added, “Hooray. Good for you, kid x”

    Bisexual advocate and rights campaigner Lewis Oakley remarked on Iain’s status with “Always great to see other bi men in the media! Hope our paths cross so we can talk about it!”

     

  • Pink News apologises to MP and makes a donation to charity as compensation

    Pink News apologises to MP and makes a donation to charity as compensation

    One of the UK’s leading LGBT+ news outlets, PinkNews apologises after publishing a story about Joanna Cherry QC which was later found to be untrue.

    kconcha / Pixabay

    PinkNews has offered an “unreserved” apology to  Joanna Cherry QC the MP for Edinburgh South West after it published a story which was later found to be untrue.

    Taking to Twitter, Ms Cherry wrote, “Last week ⁦⁩ published a defamatory story about me. I’m pleased to have secured a full apology, a donation to a charity of my choice – – & full payment of my legal costs”.

    In a statement, PinkNews wrote,

    “The claim was untrue and we would like to apologise unreservedly to Ms Cherry.

    “It is well known that Ms Cherry is a human rights lawyer. She came out as a lesbian over 30 years ago and campaigned against section 28. She has spent a lifetime marching and campaigning for the rights of the LGBT+ community and as a politician regularly speaks up for their rights in parliament and beyond.

    “It was not our intention nor is it in our interest to alienate any member of the LGBT+ community and we are truly sorry for the harm caused.

    “We are happy also to confirm that we have made a donation to the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group at Ms Cherry’s request in compensation for the damage done and we have paid Ms Cherry’s legal costs.

    In a statement published by Pink News, Ms Cherry wrote,

    “I am pleased that the PinkNews has withdrawn this damaging and hurtful allegation. I believe in equal rights for all. It is not acceptable for lesbians who speak up for women and girls’ rights and against hateful speech and abuse to be denigrated. I hope the LGBTI+ movement can resume its previous habit of respectful debate over differences of opinion within the community.”

    The amount donated to the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group has not been disclosed nor have the legal costs involved.

     

  • Diplo’s boner broke the internet this week

    Diplo’s boner broke the internet this week

    Apparently, the outdoors gets him excited

    American DJ Diplo decided that today was the day that he’d share his bone with the world – and the world – well the Insta world was very happy to get a glimpse.

    Taking to Instagram, Diplo shared a picture of himself, in an excited state, capitioning the picture, “I’ve been all over God’s green earth, and nothing excites me more than the raw beauty of nature”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BzbdI28HDVq/

    Fans were quick to jump on the picture with their praise of his dong, with over half a million people liking the picture within 10 hours of the picture being posted.

    What we learned today, Diplo has a biggun and he likes it raw in nature.

    Same same…

     

  • Seann Miley Moore gets steamy in the shower

    Seann Miley Moore gets steamy in the shower

    Seann Miley Moore excites fans with a series of  steamy shower photos…

    Stripping from his trademark sheer net and strappy tops, Seann Miley Moore gave his Insta fans something to lust over with a series of near nude shower photos.

    Showing off some serious pec-age, Seann captioned the pictures with a simple merman emoji, but his fans had a lot more to say about the photos.

    Fellow LGBT+ artist, Andrea Giovanni led the comments with a simple “A babe” while others remarked about how “sexy” and “stunning” the former X Factor star was looking.

    Seann is currently starring in a brand new cabaret, S.Q.U.A.D Goals which runs on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of July at the Underbelly Festival in London.

    He’s also released a 4-track EP “4 Track Bitch”, which might be the sexiest release since Janet Jackson’s Discipline and contains the smash bop “Heartbreak Hotel” – available from all major streaming services.

    This isn’t the first time Seann has shown off his bod – and we fully approve 🙂

    Earlier in June he published this

     

    and then in May this…

  • When is Pride Month in the UK?

    When is Pride Month in the UK?

    Across the world, June has become known as Pride month, but is June Pride Month in the UK?

    When is Pride Month in the UK?

    Pride Month stemmed from the US, which has been adopted more widely across the world, but in reality, there are many Pride months across the globe. For instance, Sydney Mardi Gras, Australia’s biggest pride takes place in February (although they do have a Pride festival in June) and here in the UK, there isn’t such thing as one month for Pride.

    In the US most prides happen in the month of June to coincide with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, in the UK however things are a little more spread out with more and more county, city and town prides becoming available.

    There are over 150 pride events in the UK alone and they start in Feb with the last (outside Winter Pride) in September. So Pride month in the UK is better described as Pride Half Year!

    Want to know more about prides, see our entire collection of Pride articles here. Want to shop for Pride Merchandise, visit our partner retailer, THE PRIDE SHOP.

  • This gay author’s book just became a best seller

    Gay author Paul Ilett is celebrating after his first novel became an LGBT best- seller, more than four years after it was published.

    Gay author Paul Ilett is celebrating after his first novel became an LGBT best- seller, more than four years after it was published.

    Paul’s novel Exposé has sold more than 10,000 copies around the world but an unexpected boost in sales during June pushed it to the top of Amazon’s best seller list.

    Exposé, a darkly comical thriller, tells the story of a Gay superstar actor’s revenge on a team of ruthless reporters who work for the world’s most salacious tabloid newspaper, The Daily Ear. It has five-star reader ratings across Amazon and Goodreads, and even received a glowing review from The Sun newspaper and THEGAYUK.

    Paul, 49, said: “I’ve been very pleased with how Exposé was received, particularly as I’ve been getting messages from readers around the world who’ve enjoyed it. It’s not always possible to know exactly why there was a sudden increase in sales but it was very exciting to find Amazon had added “#1 Best Seller – Gay Fiction” next to it.

    Paul put his writing aside for the past few years to study for a master’s degree but has recently started work on a sequel. “It’s lovely to be back in the swing of writing again and I hope the next book is received as positively as the first.”

    You can get the book here

  • Victoria Beckham has released a t-shirt for Pride season and it’s £90

    Victoria Beckham has released a t-shirt which aims to raise money for the LGBT+ charity Albert Kennedy Trust.

    But it looks to be sold out – and it cost £90!

    The simple T-Shirt which bears the slogan, “Everyone Deserves Love” from Victoria Beckham seems to have sold out – as no options are available left on the official website. VB has promised that 25 per cent of each sale will go to help out LGBT+ homelessness.

    However, explaining the reasoning behind the apparel, Victoria said,

    “In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, I wanted to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and their continued message of positive change and inclusivity,

    “This year, for the first time, I’ve created a t-shirt with proceeds benefitting the Albert Kennedy Trust that champion human rights.”

    There was no mention of how many t-shirts were made available or what the total donation to akt will be, unlike Procter and Gamble’s Fairy Liquid, which has promised the charity a whopping £50,000.

    Victoria adds: “I have always felt a deep connection to the LGBTQ+ community and am proud to help support their fight for equality.”

  • Fairy is about to donate £50,000 to this LGBT+ charity

    Fairy is about to donate £50,000 to this LGBT+ charity

    One of the UK’s most traditional brands, Fairy washing up liquid is about to donate a huge 50K to the Albert Kennedy Trust with the launch of a limited edition product.

    Fairy is coming out in support of the LGBT+ community by promising to donate £50,000 to the Albert Kennedy Trust, the LGBT+ homelessness charity with the launch of its limited edition FAIR range.

    This comes as the brand publishes The FAIR Report which looks at the attitudes and perceptions of British parents and finds that, while things have come a long way in Britain since Fairy launched in the 1950s, there is still a long way to go for all families to enjoy equality. Key findings include:

    • Less than a third (30%) of British parents surveyed said they think families with LGBT+ members are fairly treated in 2019
    • Seven in ten (69%) said they would support their child if they were in a same-sex relationship and wanted to have a child
    • When asked what would help to create equality for families with LGBT+ members, education in schools was the top answer (59%)

    While some stats from the report were promising, others showed there is still work to be done:

    • Just over half of parents (59%) think that they talk openly and positively about LGBT life and issues to their kids.
    • Less than half of parents of an LGBT+ child (47%) believe that their child was comfortable telling them they are LGBT+
    • Over a quarter (27%) of British parents say they agree that it is fair to treat people differently because of who they love or who loves them
    • Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) said that LGBT+ parenting has no place in 2019

    The research, conducted amongst 2,000 British parents during May 2019, shows that, while we’ve come a long way, there is room for family life to be more FAIR today. For this reason, FAIRY is donating £50k to the charity akt to help progress equality for members of the LGBT+ community and help them find a supportive family unit.

    According to the research, a third (32%) of British parents say, within their family, they find it difficult to find the right moment to talk about sensitive issues. And whilst over half (59%) believe they talk with their children openly and positively about LGBT+ issues, a quarter of those surveyed (25%) did not.

    “FAIRY has been a presence beside British kitchen sinks for over 70 years – if a bottle of FAIR can help families find a moment to talk openly and positively about LGBTQI+ issues, that will really help shift perceptions and drive equity for all family members, everywhere,” said Tim Sigsworth, CEO of akt.

    “Fairy’s donation will help akt develop innovative responses to ensure parents, caregivers and siblings are better informed and supported – increasing the possibility that young people will continue to enjoy a supportive and loving family life, after they come out.”

    “Whilst there has been huge progress in equality in the UK, there’s still room for greater fairness.  In partnership with akt, our FAIR campaign recognises and celebrates the diversity in family life today” said Tom Moody, Vice President & General Manager, P&G Northern Europe

    “When people chose a limited edition FAIR bottle and place it by their sink at home, they’ll be supporting a fabulous cause and our vision to create a world free from bias where everyone is free to be themselves” he continued.

    Fairy has created ‘The Fairy FAIR film’ with campaign ambassador, Duncan James and akt to accompany the report. Commenting on it, Duncan said, “I count myself so lucky that my Mum and grandparents have been so loving and supportive over the years.

    “We have come such a long way but The FAIR Report highlights that there are still so many members of the LGBTQ+ community who struggle to have a happy family life. I would encourage families – next time you’re having a cup of tea or doing the washing up, have a chat and let each other know, we’re all equal no matter who we love or who loves us.”

    The limited edition FAIR range will be available from leading retailers from July 2019. A donation of £50,000 will go to akt.

     

  • LGBT Artist, Feryl releases a huge summer BOP

    Following the positive reception of the “RELEASE” EP Pride favourite, Feryl, has released this HOUSE remix of ‘Solemn Light’!

    The track aims to be a summer banger, bringing the Ibiza vibe to the UK, and is produced by the talented Jojo F who is celebrating HUGE success with Da BeatFreakz on Radio1 right now!

    Speaking about the track Feryl said, “Solemn Light” was written for my sister after her husband died suddenly of a blood clot in the brain… I wanted to remind her that the only strength she needed was inside her all along, and listeners have found their own strength in the lyrics”.

    Check out the official Lyric Video