‘Goes to the gym’, ‘Sports a beard’ and lesbians “hate men” but enjoy hugs.
WTF. A Malaysian newspaper has reached a low point in journalism after publishing a stereotype-laden list to help its readers determine whether somebody is gay or lesbian.
The tabloid Sinar Harian used tired stereotypes to pigeon-hole what gay men might look like or which hobbies they might enjoy, including wearing tight clothing to show off their physiques and suggesting that gay men might sport a beard.
Apparently, according to the list, our eyes also “widen” when we see handsome men.
Lesbians, according to the list, “hate men” but enjoy hugs.
The list has sparked concerns by LGBT+ advocates because same-sex relationships are illegal in the Muslim-majority country. The anti-sodomy law is a hangover from colonial-era laws.
Punishment for those found guilty include caning or a fine and up to 20 years in prison.
The paper ran the checklist alongside an interview with the preacher Hanafiah Malik. The interview warned that homosexuality was “on the rise” and that it needed “to be stopped”.
Advocates in the country are concerned that the article and the list could spark a backlash against the LGBT+ community.
Right-wing controversialist demands an apology from Sony Pictures saying that Peter Rabbit doesn’t identify as male.
With the non-binary and trans community squarely in her sights, Katie Hopkins seemingly mocked how some in the trans and non-binary community wish to identify themselves.
In a tweet, we can only imagine she thought was amusing, she demanded an apology from Sony Pictures, as “Peter does not identify as male. Or a bunny”
She then used a gender-neutral pronoun, “Zir”, to say that the rabbit actually prefers to identify as “Barbara the Rodent”.
The Tweet was met with a mix of reactions, with some writing that the former radio presenter, former TV host and former columnist for The Sun and MailOnline, wasn’t funny and just tweeting for the sake of being provactive.
One user questioned the rise of a “transphobic smear campaign” by the right.
I don’t understand this transphobic smear campaign the right have been launching. I would say letting them identify how they want is the least we can do considering they haven’t had rights for 99% of human existence
The tweet comes after the new Peter Rabbit film included a scene where a character who suffers a blackberry allergy is pelted with them by a gang of bunnies.
The film’s makers apologised for the scene saying that they “should not have made light” of the issue.
You know what it’s like. Freezing cold, there’s a drizzle in the air, you’re wearing thin white short shorts and the world is watching.
What do you do? Yep, accidentally pull your shorts down exposing your Johnson to the world. Behind your manager of all people.
An unidentified Huddersfield substitute player managed to exposed his manhood to the millions of fans watching around the world – and all of this happened behind the back of the club’s manager, David Wagner.
The flash happened only for a split second, but eagle-eyed fans have been trying to identify the player, who seems to have a tattoo on his right thigh – and it seems as though he’s quite a sizeable player too if you get our drift.
New research has found that the majority of gay and bi men cheat on their partners.
A survey of gay and bisexual men has found that 52 percent had cheated on their boyfriends and nearly 60 percent said they had been cheated on by their partners.
Despite over half of partners cheating on their lovers, only 45 percent of these men said that their partners had found out about their unfaithfulness.
The research, conducted by FS Magazine asked 961 gay and bisexual men about the times they had cheated and been cheated upon.
Here’s what they found out:
58% of respondents said a partner has been unfaithful
52% said they had been unfaithful
45% of these men said that their partner never found out
17% said that they’d got an STI from being unfaithful
61% of these men did not inform their partner
40% of people in an open relationship said that either they or their partner has broken the rules of that relationship.
Ian Howley, Chief Executive of HERO – the Health Equality and Rights Organisation, notes that communication is a fundamental issue in the relationships of gay men, “What’s clear to us from the results of the survey and what gay men told us about their experiences is that some gay men are making the same mistakes regarding communication, trust and boundaries.
“There’s huge issue of gay men not being able to talk to one another about what they want sexually. We grow up in a very heterosexual society where ‘cheating’ is enough to end relationships and long-standing marriages because that’s what society has told us to do. And it’s not shocking to find that these standards are also put on gay men.”
Ian adds: “I’ve met lots of gay couples who are perfect for each, emotionally, but sexually they didn’t work, or it just fizzled out but rather than work together on this, one or both of them cheats on their partner leading to the eventual breakdown of their relationship.
“Now ‘cheating’ may start with flirting with a stranger or sliding into someone’s DMs on Twitter, but it only takes a few conversation exchanges before thoughts are put into action and then you have an issue that might bring the end to your relationship.
“Of course sex is important for any relationship to work but you cannot and never will be able to meet the needs of someone 100% of the time. And we are foolish to put that pressure on ourselves.
“If you are lucky to find someone that does it for you, is there for you emotionally, physically and treats you with the respect you deserve, then you must work on the relationship. Letting a relationship die because of sex is silly. More often he will work with you and you can work together to explore options that will keep your relationship tight.”
HERO are also recommending that gay men in relationships get tested for STIs and HIV regularly. Ian said, “17% of the gay men who admitted to cheating on their partner got an STI or HIV. We recommend that all sexually active gay men, whether in a relationship or not, gets tested for HIV and STI at least twice a year.”
The new issue of FS magazine is now available to download on iOS and via Pocketmags.
A Miami teacher returned to work after celebrating her wedding to her partner only to get fired from her job. The Catholic school teacher, Jocelyn Morffi, posted photos her marriage last weekend to Facebook and was fired from the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School on Thursday after returning to work the day before. “This weekend… (more…)
One punch was all it took to take the life of a 54-year-old GrahamThurston outside a club in Newcastle in August last year.
One punch was all it took to take the life of a 54-year-old man outside a club in Newcastle in August last year.
Graham Thurston was knocked to his death after a brawl in Newcastle’s city centre, when Scott Thomson punched him.
Thomson was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial at the Newcastle Crown Court.
Victim Graham Thurston was attacked after accusing Thomson of bullying a man. After the first punch, Thurston got up, seemingly unhurt, but it was the second punch that claimed his life after he cracked his head on the ground.
Thomson claimed he had acted in self-defence.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Paul Waugh said: “Thompson was intoxicated when he attacked Graham with one punch which sadly caused him fatal injuries. This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of too much alcohol, and the consequences of violence on a night out. We want people on a night out to enjoy themselves, but would like to remind people that drinking alcohol can have devastating consequences on your life and the lives of others.
“We welcome the decision by the jury today and are grateful to the members of the public who came forward and gave evidence in the trial as they helped secure this conviction. This result highlights the importance of the police and public working together.
“Our thoughts remain with the family of Graham and we continue to offer them our condolence. I hope they find some comfort in that justice has been done.”
He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 29 March.
In a first, Bermuda officially moved toward abolishing same-sex marriage by approving a bill Wednesday despite a supreme court ruling that legalized gay couple marriage in May 2017. Merely eight … (more…)
The Star Trek actor out spoke out in late 2017 about Kevin Spacey and his alleged historic behaviour, now Rapp has revealed why he did it.
Speaking to CBS’s The Talk, Anthony Rapp revealed why he spoke up about how he says Kevin Spacey acted towards him when he was just a 14-year-old boy.
In October, Rapp who is now 46, told Buzzfeed that he joined Spacey for a party at his Manhattan apartment saying that he was the only non-adult at the party and soon got bored. After a while, Rapp said that he wandered into the bedroom, watched TV until well past midnight. He then alleged that Spacey made “sexual advances” toward the then teenager.
According to the report in Buzzfeed, Rapp had once approached a lawyer to discuss legal action against Spacey but was told it was not a case worth pursuing. He also stated that because of the accusations levied against Harvey Weinstein that he was “really awake to the moment that we’re living in”.
He reinforced this by saying, “Part of what allowed the Harvey situation to occur was that there was this witting and unwitting conspiracy of silence,
“The only way these things can continue is if there’s no attention being paid to it, if it’s getting forgotten.”
Rapp also spoke about how he felt “dread” whilst watching the Tony Awards when Kevin Spacey was a host for the show.
“Protect”
The Broadway and Star Trek actor said that despite the risk he knew there were more stories about the now disgraced actor but he also wanted to “protect” people.
“It was a risky thing”
Speaking on The Talk, Rapp said, “I knew that there were more stories so I was just hopeful that coming forward, it would encourage more people to tell the truth.”
“I knew that it was a risky thing.
“I knew that he was very popular and certainly a respected actor, but at the same time I knew that I was trying to protect people”.
His statement was met with applause from the show’s live studio audience.
What happened to Spacey after the allegation?
Shortly after Rapp’s allegations, Netflix, the co-producers of the Spacey-fronted hit TV series, House Of Cards, confirmed that the show would continue, but without Spacey in the role of Frank Underwood. However, there was speculation that the show would be cancelled, the news was met with considerable backlash with some fans sending abuse the Rapp. However, the show will continue but with Robin Wright, who plays Clare Underwood, taking the lead.
If you’ve read my past interviews with Sassi Afrika, you will know that she is indeed as sassy as the name suggests. However, there’s much more to this Queen than meets the eye. Living with a disability, but never letting that hold her back, Sassi Afrika is now on a mission to raise the visibility of people with disabilities at Pride events across the land.
(C) VERINE LINTON
“I am passionate because I have disabilities too. I have cerebral palsy that affects the left side of my body, and I have mild learning disabilities.”
Daniel Browne: Sassi, it’s lovely to talk to you again. Thank you for taking the time out for this interview. How have you been?
Sassi Afrika: Well honey I’ve been busy. You should know that. Everyone else does. I’ve had a great year, darling. My third album, Red Hot, came out at the end of last year. It’s been so well received. Of course, so it should be, but I am grateful for the support my music gets. No Grammys or Brit Awards yet, but I’m working on it. I’ve also been focusing more on the charity work that I do. It’s in my heart. Yes, I do have one.
DB: That all sounds fantastic. Congratulations on the new album. Let’s talk more about your charity work. What have you been doing?
SA: As you know, I support the LGBT+ community completely. Well, I am LGBT+, you know. But I’ve become a trustee with an amazing Pride charity and I take the lead on running the LGBT+ youth group, the parents support group, and the social group for LGBT+ people with learning disabilities. Everyone wants a piece of Sassi, but supporting the community comes before anything else. Someone’s got to serve the tea and cake.
“…people with disabilities should always be included. We should be visible. We are human. We are the same as everyone else. We need a seat at the table, like Solange.”
DB: I keep an eye on what you’re up to on social media and noticed that recently you’ve become more vocal about people with disabilities being visible and included at LGBT+ events. What sparked that?
SA: Darling, people with disabilities should always be included. We should be visible. I’ve been to many Prides and sometimes feel disappointed that LGBT+ people with disabilities are nowhere to be seen. Especially not as part of the line-up. It’s upsetting. But rather than just be upset, I thought I would do something about it. So, I am working for change. I don’t mean working for the bit of loose change in your pocket, but for people with disabilities to be represented at Prides. I set up the group for LGBT+ people with learning disabilities so that we have somewhere to go. So we can meet new people and not be outcasts. We are human. We are the same as everyone else. We need a seat at the table, like Solange.
DB: I hear you, and I feel your passion…
SA: I am passionate because I have disabilities too. I have cerebral palsy that affects the left side of my body, and I have mild learning disabilities. I know what it’s like to be treated differently and not be included. But my disabilities don’t hold me back. I’m here to help others achieve the same thing. We can all be Kings and Queens. Someone told me that the word disability has the word ability in it. So, I focus on my ability and help others with theirs.
“(Prides need to…) organise some chill out zones for people with physical disabilities and learning disabilities. Consider us. Include us.”
DB: What do you think Pride events can do to promote inclusion and visibility of LGBT+ people with disabilities?
SA: I think every Pride can do more. LGBT+ people with disabilities need more than access. We need a platform. We need to shine. I feel that some Prides have lots of non-LGBT+ performers, not enough LGBT+ performers, and none that have a disability. There are many LGBT+ people with disabilities who are talented and can bring that talent to Prides. So, people with disabilities need to be included on stage line-ups. For example, I am hosting the main stage at Warwickshire Pride again this year. There’s a plug. I mean, I’m not saying book me, but please do have LGBT+ people with disabilities represented. Talk to us. Get our views. Let us help you plan your Prides. It would also be nice to see stalls that focus on disabilities. Like having disability charities present. Organise some chill out zones for people with physical disabilities and learning disabilities. Consider us. Include us.
DB: I agree that Prides need to represent LGBT+ people as much as possible, so I wish you well with your mission.
SA: Thank you. I am sassy and all of that, but I am human too. I care. I want to make a difference.
DB: What’s 2018 got in store for Sassi Afrika?
SA: Well I have just told you, darling. Are you tuning in to the same programme? I will be campaigning, but I will also be bringing sass to stages everywhere. I am hoping that more Prides will book me. I have some gigs and hosting jobs coming up. Also, my new single Power Bottom will be out in time for Valentine’s Day. I know how romantic that sounds. I’m just going to be me. That’s 2018 for you.
Sassi Afrika’s latest album Red Hot is available on Spotify and iTunes. You can follow her on Twitter @SassiAfrika.
A YouTube video posted Sunday showed Indonesia’s North Aceh Police Chief Untung Sangaji denounce transgender people. … and extramarital sex. Reza, an LGBT activist, who asked for his real name to be concealed told Guardian, “A lot of the salons have closed because of rumors that fundamentalists will raid them after Friday prayers … (more…)
Actor turned activist, Rose McGowan, has cancelled upcoming public appearances to promote her new book, Brave, following on from what she’s described as a verbal assault, by a trans activist.
The former Charmed actor then went on to call out her publicists, managers and the audience of the event, for being complicit.
She then called upon bookseller Barnes and Noble to apologise for the “assault”.
Upset at the bookstore
Earlier this week, a transgender activist, passionately told McGowan, “Trans women are dying, and you said that we, as trans women, are not like regular women.
“We get raped more often. We go through domestic violence more often.
“There was a trans woman killed here a few blocks [away]. I have been followed home.”
McGowan responded civilly at first saying, “So have I. So have I. So have I. We’re the same. My point was: we are the same,
“There’s an entire show called ID channel, a network, dedicated 24 hours a day to women getting abused, murdered, sexualised and violated, and you are too, sister.
“It’s the same.”
However, when the activist responded that McGowan had done “nothing for” trans women and labelled as a cis white feminist, McGowan lost her cool.
Watch the video here
Here is the full video of @rosemcgowan shouting down a trans woman, saying that she is resentful that she gets told she has white privilege and cis privilege, and to shut up and sit down.
Trigger warning: she’s a full out unapologetic raging racist transphobic white woman. pic.twitter.com/PdRnLtQc2K
Taking to Twitter, McGowan, 44, wrote, “I am canceling upcoming public appearances because I have given enough. I have given beauty, in return I was VERBALLY ASSAULTED for two full minutes @BNBuzz by an actor paid to verbally assault a woman who has been terrorized by your system. And no ONE in that room did anything
“And everyone from my publicists, t assistants, managers and every person sitting in their chairs frozen by their weakness, a weakness called COMPLICITY. The truth is you all failed me. Again. And again. And again.
“I would like an apology from the manager of the Union Square @BNUnionSquareNY and all security people, and the audience, who did nothing and let the paid verbal assault of an assaulted woman happen. Cool?”
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Paul Waugh said: “Thompson was intoxicated when he attacked Graham with one punch which sadly caused him fatal injuries. This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of too much alcohol, and the consequences of violence on a night out. We want people on a night out to enjoy themselves, but would like to remind people that drinking alcohol can have devastating consequences on your life and the lives of others.
