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  • Transgender star of Big Brother dies unexpectedly

    The star of 2009’s series of Big Brother Rekebah Shelton has died unexpectedly

    ** This story has been updated, click here to read the update.

    Rebekah Shelton, who fans of the show may remember her when she entered the house as Rodrigo Lopes, has died unexpectedly at the age of 32. The news was confirmed by a Tweet from her official, verified Twitter account. Rekebah was, according to her Twitter account living in Dubai.

    A tweet from her personal account read, “We’re sorry to inform everyone of the sad news that our wonderful and lovely Rebekah died unexpectedly on Wednesday night.

    “We ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this time.”

    Ms Shelton hadn’t been using the platform much in 2017. Her last update was in November when she updated her profile picture (ABOVE). The tweet before that was sent in June and said, “Im [sic] sending this tweet to you people who still like me for some reason. People from the UK who always loved and accepted me for who I am”.

    Rebekah Shelton transitioned in 2012. Speaking about her transition she said, “I always felt like I had a woman inside of me, always, but I used to hide it. I’ve always liked make-up, treatments and other womanly things, and I was 18 when I first started experimenting. But early this year I told my best friend Andrea how I was really feeling.

    “She encouraged me. When I came back to the UK I started wearing my friends’ clothes first, then I began shopping for them”.

    Emotional about transition

    In early 2017 an emotional Shelton shared a video on Twitter over her confusion and upset over her transition. Speaking via Twitter, in Tweets that she’s now deleted, she spoke of her journey, since embarking on a series of operations to fulfil her transition. She spoke of her loneliness and the discrimination she’s faced since beginning her physical transition.

    She was left questioning whether the transition was worth it.

    The videos were uploaded after she managed to log into her old Rodrigo Facebook account and left the star feeling emotional. She said,

    “I went on, after five years, I was trying to find the Facebook account, as Rodrigo, you know, from the past. I was shocked, it’s hard to go through everything I’ve been through – having all these surgeries and things. It’s crazy when you look at yourself and the way you used to be, and it makes you wonder, what have I done?”

    “If you are following me and you want to transition, think. Think, once, twice, three times, four times, five times, because it’s not easy. You have more opportunities in your birth gender because there is still discrimination. There is still discrimination, you know so just think.”

     

    Ill Health and Coma

    In 2014 the star fell into a coma after it was discovered she had a brain tumour.

    Taking to Shelton’s official Twitter her family tweeted, ‘The doctors found a head tumour and she is in come [sic]. We cannot speak anymore. Please just pray for our Rebekah’

    The cause of Shelton’s death is unknown at this time.

  • CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen Passat GT

    ★★★☆☆ | Volkswagen Passat GT

    REVIEW Volkswagen Passat GT

    The VW Passat is a good car.

    You can’t fault it really. From its rusty ashes as the 1968 411, it has grown and with Audi’s influence, VW’s people’s car for the executive has become a staple for the rep about the motorway service area who wants a quieter life than the four roundel sister cars.

    And that ladies and gentlemen is the Passat’s problem. It’s too quiet and yet its family timeline to start with was anything but.

    Volkswagen CEO Kurt Lotz, from 1968 – 71, had a bit of a task ahead of him. His greatest success was the purchase of NSU along with its water cooling experience. Wheels were in motion for VW’s greatest change. It’s safe to say Lotz would have been proud of the Passat today and as an owner, you would be too.

    The GT we tested, left you wanting for nothing. It had all the toys you could wish for. The meagre money VW charges for it (£29,000 starting price), it is a lot of car for your pound. Add the essentials and it soon adds up but the end result is still a great value car. There wasn’t one moment when I wished for more. Actually, I did and I’ll get to that if I haven’t convinced myself that I don’t want it by the time I am finished.

    For a start, the petrol engine is quite simply an amazing power unit. It’s by far not the most powerful in the Passat range. The 180ps 1.8 was subtle in the way it delivered the power. While the engine gets into its gallop between 5100 – 6200 rpm with the 236 Ibs ft of torque that kicks in across the 1450 – 3500 rpm rev range. It gets going with a lovely subdued growl. Like drinking the smoothest Baileys with a dollop of extra cream followed by an intense espresso.

    The compliant ride adds to this fluid quality feel that you have come to expect from Volkswagen. It smoothed out almost all surfaces and road roar was limited to a mild hum.

    The driving experience of the Passat was always a joy and never a chore. Even with the manual gearbox, it didn’t feel like I was being put out because I had a third pedal to press. Clutch controls were nicely weighted to the other controls. VW spend a lot of time on this and they get it right.

    It all sounds quite lovely. You can though, push Passat if you’re feeling a little asphalt frisky. the handling is safe and visibility is good. It glides around fast S bends and will mildly understeer if you push it beyond the capabilities of the tyres. Traction kicks in and restores your faith. It’s safe fun. Yet look at its performance figures and you’ll see it’s no slow coach.

    A 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds isn’t too shabby and I’ve no doubt that it will eventually get to the claimed top speed of 144mph.

    It’s just that when it does, you’ll have no idea you are going that fast until you see the blues and twos coming up behind you.

    Interior quality is second to none. As much as Volkswagen is a premium brand, you have to remember that this isn’t the premium brand from VAG. That is Audi’s job and yet apart from a little too much black around the inside and not enough glitz to break it up, it was well and truly above par.

    VW’s sale figures for the Passat astonished me. Despite the Passat being in a small yet aggressive market, there wasn’t as many sold as I thought and yet you see so many on the roads. One wonders if BMW, Mercedes and Audi drivers looked at the values of the Passat that more would be sold. That said for the out and out performance car, it isn’t quite what the Passat image is about despite there being a Passat R.

    The dashboard layout benefits from the new system being adopted by VW that has moved the goal posts yet again. Being adaptive in its information allows you to get the best from the car and its calming qualities that all add up to make Passat a nice place to be in. And to make sure you are never late, VW has included three clocks up front. Why? I do not know. Two digital and an analogue one in the centre of the dashboard. I am surprised they haven’t added one in the rear.

    With regards to the toys, the Passat is packed with them. The adaptive cruise which I like to see and lane assist. Volkswagen’s system doesn’t cut power off immediately when it notices the driver is going autonomous. It does figure out quite quickly that you are not putting in manual inputs. The alarm sounds to alert you to take control. If you insist on ignoring this, it briefly and yet not dangerously life-threatening to those driving behind you, jabs on the brakes for a split second. It’s most unpleasant. You then tend to not do that again

    It all adds up to a nice car. A car for all reasons. You could adorn it with ribbons and use it as a wedding limousine. The bride and groom wouldn’t think you had turned up in a repster mobile. The bride wouldn’t kick off. There would be no drama. And that’s the problem I have. There is simply no drama with the Passat. It’s not like there isn’t room for a drama button on the centre console amongst the blanks on this model.

    For £3k more the 2.0-litre models may well give you this but then you lose the sense of great value for what is a very nice car. And only three stars I know seems harsh. It just needs to kick you in the teeth! Sadly for Passat, when you park it up you can walk away, mind rested and soul intact. You’ve arrived.

    Love

    Nice
    Good specification
    Value

    Loathe

    Not as boring as I might have made it sound
    Drab in the rear
    It’s too nice to add a third thing l don’t like

    The Lowdown
    Car – Volkswagen Passat GT TSI 180ps
    Price – £35,070 (as tested)
    MPG – 47.9mpg (combined)
    Power – 0-62mph – 7.7 seconds
    Top Speed – 144 mph
    Co2 – 136 (g/km)

  • What happens when your boyfriend’s schlong is bigger than yours

    Is there such thing as penis envy in the gay world?

    What happens when your boyfriend's schlong is bigger than yours
    Is there such a thing a penis envy between boyfriends?

    It seems that penis envy between boyfriends can be a thing. One user on Reddit recently admitted that his boyfriend’s penis, although being only half an inch bigger (at 6.5 inches) than his was starting to bother him. In fact, he’s getting real anxiety over the issue. Despite his past boyfriends being “wowed” by his girth, it seems that length is important.

    Is it?

    Well, it turns out he’s not alone, according to stats, over a third of gay men are actually unhappy with the size of their Ds. A survey undertaken by THEGAYUK in 2015 found that over a third of men questioned had issues with the size of their manhoods, with a further 12 percent considering penile enlargement surgery to increase girth or length.

    Of those surveyed, 54% of men had a penis length of 5 to 7 inches, 12 percent had a penis size less than 5 inches.

    What happens when your boyfriend's penis is bigger than yours
    Don’t let penis envy get in the way of your relationship

    What’s the average size anyway?

    According to a recent worldwide poll of men, 5.16 inches is the average size of an adult male’s erect penis.

    Well, Reddit users were quick to point out that willy length probably isn’t that big of a deal for his partner with one saying, “um probably doesn’t actually care” while another chided the user, how about “start to grow up” or “just be an adult”.

    One will always be bigger than the other

    One sympathetic user, however, answered,

    “When two men are in a relationship, one dick will ALWAYS be bigger than the other. So, by nothing more than luck or lottery, his is slightly larger than yours. It could have easily been the other way around, so ask yourself, would you care if yours were slightly larger? My guess is no. You wouldn’t love him less or think of him less just for having a slightly smaller dick, so why would you think he’s thinking that way about you?”

    Deeper troubles?

    Another told the user that having insecurities was normal, but hinted that perhaps the issues ran deeper than just peen size.

    “It’s normal to have insecurities, but when comparing oneself to a person with whom you’re in a relationship, sometimes it’s because we are afraid of losing them, or subconsciously know the relationship isn’t working. You are comparing yourself to him the way some guys do with other guys in the context of competition.

    “Are you afraid he will decide he wants to find someone longer than himself? Or perhaps that if you two break up, he will be preferred by others over you?”

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Las Iguanas Restaurant, Royal Festival Hall

    ★★★★ | Las Iguanas (Royal Festival Hall)

    It’s a new year, so it’s time to try new things. And I highly recommend Las Iguanas restaurant – they’ve got a new menu, and it sits perfectly alongside their other yummy dishes and drinks.

    With branches practically all over London, including Spitalfields, the Brunswick Centre, Stratford, the O2 and many more, the most centrally located is located on the busy walking path between Charing Cross Bridge and Waterloo Train Station. Right next to the Royal Festival Hall – it’s a pathway where people are in a rush to catch their trains home, so they’re focusing on either the north or south of the river train station. Well, I highly recommend a stop at Las Iguanas because there is so much on offer you’ll have a hard time deciding what to eat, so will need to go back just to satisfy your curiosity.

    Their new menu has an excellent selection of new dishes that must be tried. First and foremost may I recommend the Seco de Cordero (Dry Lamb) – but it is not dry at all! It’s a lamb shank (a huge portion), slow cooked in a golden ale, red wine and Amarillo chilli sauce, served with amazing roasted sweet potato mash & crispy chilli and onions, and at only £18.95 it’s worth every pound! From their Mexican menu, try their Vegetarian Burritos. It’s sweet potato, butternut squash & chickpea chilli all nicely rolled up in a wheat tortilla and also stuffed with rice, refried beans and comes with crunchy slaw & cheese with salad, sour cream, guacamole & roasted tomato salsa on the side, and that’s a whole lot of food for only £10.50. How about going for something entirely different and try a Cuban Sandwich. If you’ve never had one before, I highly recommend one. It’s Roasted pork belly, Emmental cheese & ham with sweet mustard & green pickle relish layered in a buttery toasted bun, with slaw & choice of fries or salad (£10.50). Also very very different is the Cauliflower & Corn Quinotto. What’s a Quinotto? It’s Peruvian-style quinoa risotto that comes with smoked cheese, roasted cauliflower & charred baby corn, topped with puffed quinoa & crispy chilli (£9.95). Besides these amazing (and new) dishes, Las Iguanas still also serves your favourites from Brazil. Dishes like Bahian Coconut Chicken being one of them, Cuba (Havana Club & Jerk BBQ Pork Ribs – yummy!), Argentina (Gaucho Steak will do nicely thank you), and Mexican (Enchiladas, Chilli Con Carne, Fajitas, etc.).

    I mean there’s just so so so much on the menu I could go on and on…like, for instance, their amazing Taco Planks where you can mix and match what type of filling you want. Tortilla chips & dip while you are waiting to order; as well as of course Nachos, Calamari, Mussels, salads – there are just too too many to mention. And speaking of a mention, you also need, need, to try their Piña Colada Mess for dessert. It’s Piña Colada ice cream with caramelised pineapple salsa, crispy pineapple pieces & toasted coconut chips (£5.50).

    Now, why else would you go to a Latin Amercian restaurant if you weren’t going to sample their drinks, and Las Iguanas has it all. From their refreshing Strawberry Daquiris to their amazing Mezcal Watermelon Smash, and of course, you really need to have one of their Mojitos if you are feeling Cuban, or if you are feeling a bit Mexican than of, course have a Margarita. I urge you, urge you, to have a look at the drinks menu as you will not be able to narrow your choices down to five – there’s just so much to choose from.

    Las Iguanas lives for, and brings, food alive. They also bring and deliver, an entire Latin American experience with energy and enthusiasm. Everything on the menu is mouth-watering, and you’ll have a good time, I guarantee it when you visit one of their many restaurants. You will discover more tastes, experience new things, and will want to return again and again, like I did, to try different dishes and drinks. It’s a fun experience I want to repeat muchos veces (many times!)

    To find your nearest Las Iguanas, and for opening times visit: https://www.iguanas.co.uk

  • GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Announces Dorian Award Film/TV Nominations for 2017

    GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA.org) comprised of nearly 200 critics and journalists in the US, Canada and UK, today released its ninth annual Dorian Award nominations for the year’s finest in film and TV.

    Call Me By Your Name reigns with nine nominations, starting with Film of the Year. Earning both best actor and rising star nods: Timothée Chalamet, who plays the film’s teen protagonist besotted by 20something Armie Hammer — who received a nomination for supporting actor.

    The Shape of Water, director Guillermo del Toro’s fantastical love story coupling a woman and a creature plucked from the Amazon River, landed seven nominations. Meanwhile, the horrors-of-racism drama Get Out earned six nominations, four for writer-director Jordan Peele alone (in addition to helming and screenplay nods, he’s up for “Wilde Wit” and “Wilde Artist” kudos).

    Also ranking high with GALECA members: Margot Robbie, a nominee for Film Performance of the Year — Actress for her gritty turn, twist and twirl as ice-blooded figure-skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. Joining Robbie on the ring is Chilean actress Daniela Vega for her work as a transgender waitress dealing with loss and indignities in A Fantastic Woman.

    As for epics, Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk did not get a best film nomination, but Nolan made GALECA’s Director of the Year shortlist — and the WWII epic is also up for Visually Striking Film of the Year alongside the likes of Blade Runner 2049. Meanwhile, BPM (Beats Per Minute), French director Robin Campillo’s dramatic account of friends facing the AIDS epidemic in 1990’s France, scored an impressive five nominations, from Foreign Language Film of the Year to Unsung Film.

    In TV categories, awards-season darlings Big Little Lies, Feud and The Crown — as well as women surnamed Kidman, Witherspoon, Foy and Lange — obviously delighted GALECA members as well. The male actor race includes a couple of nice surprises: Kyle MacLachlan for Twin Peaks: The Return and Jonathan Groff for Netflix’s droll crime thriller Mindhunter. Other shows getting some love include Hulu’s departing Difficult People, Netflix’s series version of Dear White People and Starz’s electric and provocative fantasy American Gods.

    And, for TV Musical Performance of the Year, Lady Gaga, Pink, RuPaul’s Drag Race favourite Sasha Velour and comic John Mulaney all vie against Kate McKinnon’s Broadway-worthy sendup of Kellyanne Conway on Saturday Night Live.

    The final Dorian verdicts, including GALECA’s latest pick for Timeless Star (a career achievement honour), will be announced Wednesday, January 31. Then, on Saturday afternoon, February 24, the group will gather to celebrate some of the winners at its annual, intimate Winners Toast in Los Angeles.

    Enjoy our posts via @DorianAwards on Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

    GALECA 2017/18 DORIAN AWARDS NOMINEES:

    FILM OF THE YEAR
    BPM (Beats Per Minute) – The Orchard
    Call Me By Your Name – Sony Pictures Classics
    Get Out – Universal
    Lady Bird – A24
    The Shape of Water – Fox Searchlight

    DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (FILM OR TELEVISION)
    Sean Baker, The Florida Project – A24
    Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water – Fox Searchlight
    Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird – A24
    Luca Guadagnino, Call Me By Your Name – Sony Pictures Classics
    Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk – Warner Bros.
    Jordan Peele, Get Out – Universal

    BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR — FEMALE
    Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water – Fox Searchlight
    Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Fox Searchlight
    Margot Robbie, I, Tonya – Neon
    Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird – A24
    Daniela Vega, A Fantastic Woman – Sony Pictures Classics

    BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – MALE
    Nahuel Perez Biscayart, BPM (Beats Per Minute) — The Orchard
    Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name – Sony Pictures Classics
    James Franco, The Disaster Artist – A24
    Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out – Universal
    Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour – Focus Features

    SUPPORTING FILM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR — FEMALE
    Mary J. Blige, Mudbound – Netflix
    Tiffany Haddish, Girls Trip – Universal
    Allison Janney, I, Tonya – Neon
    Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird – A24
    Michelle Pfeiffer, mother! – Paramount

    SUPPORTING FILM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR — MALE
    Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project – A24
    Armie Hammer, Call Me By Your Name – Sony Pictures Classics
    Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water – Fox Searchlight
    Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Fox Searchlight
    Michael Stuhlbarg, Call Me By Your Name – Sony Pictures Classics

    LGBTQ FILM OF THE YEAR
    BPM (Beats Per Minute) — The Orchard
    Battle of the Sexes – Fox Searchlight
    Call Me By Your Name – Sony Pictures Classics
    A Fantastic Woman – Sony Pictures Classics
    God’s Own Country – Samuel Goldwyn Films

    FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
    BPM (Beats Per Minute) — The Orchard
    A Fantastic Woman – Sony Pictures Classics
    First They Killed My Father – Netflix
    The Square – Magnolia Pictures
    Thelma – The Orchard

    SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR (ORIGINAL OR ADAPTED)
    James Ivory, Call Me By Your Name – Sony Pictures Classics
    Jordan Peele, Get Out – Universal
    Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird – A24
    Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor, The Shape of Water – Fox Searchlight
    Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Fox Searchlight

    DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
    (theatrical release, TV airing or DVD release)
    Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story – Zeitgeist/Kino Lorber
    The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson – Netflix
    Faces Places – Cohen Media Group
    Jane ­– National Geographic/Abramorama
    Kedi – Oscilloscope

    VISUALLY STRIKING FILM OF THE YEAR
    (honouring a production of stunning beauty, from art direction to cinematography)
    Blade Runner 2049 – Warner Bros.
    Call Me By Your Name – Sony Pictures Classics
    Dunkirk – Warner Bros.
    The Shape of Water – Fox Searchlight
    Wonderstruck – Amazon

    UNSUNG FILM OF THE YEAR
    BPM (Beats Per Minute) – The Orchard
    Beach Rats
    God’s Own Country – Samuel Goldwyn Films
    Professor Marston and the Wonder Women
    Wonderstruck – Amazon

    CAMPY FLICK OF THE YEAR
    Baywatch – Paramount
    The Disaster Artist – A24
    The Greatest Showman – 20th Century Fox
    I, Tonya – Neon
    mother! – Paramount

    TV DRAMA OF THE YEAR
    Big Little Lies – HBO – HBO
    The Crown – Netflix
    Feud: Bette and Joan – FX
    The Handmaid’s Tale – Hulu
    Twin Peaks: The Return – Showtime

    TV COMEDY OF THE YEAR
    Better Things – FX
    GLOW – Netflix
    The Good Place – NBC
    The Marvelous Mrs Maisel – Amazon
    Will & Grace – NBC

    TV PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – FEMALE
    Clare Foy, The Crown – Netflix
    Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies – HBO
    Jessica Lange, Feud: Bette and Joan – FX
    Elizabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale – Hulu
    Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies – HBO

    TV PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR — MALE
    Aziz Ansari, Master of None – Netflix
    Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us – NBC
    Jonathan Groff, Mindhunter – Netflix
    Kyle MacLachlan, Twin Peaks: The Return – Showtime
    Alexander Skaarsgård, Big Little Lies – HBO

    TV CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOW OF THE YEAR
    Full Frontal with Samantha Bee – Comedy Central
    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – HBO
    Late Night with Seth Meyers – NBC
    The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – CBS
    The Rachel Maddow Show – MSNBC

    TV MUSICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
    Lady Gaga, “God Bless America,” “Born This Way,” etc., Super Bowl LI – Fox
    Kate McKinnon, “(Kellyanne) Conway!” Saturday Night Live – NBC
    Brendan McCreary, John Mulaney, “I’m Gay,” Big Mouth – Netflix
    Pink, “Beautiful Trauma,” American Music Awards – ABC
    Sasha Velour, “So Emotional,” RuPaul’s Drag Race – VH1

    LGBTQ SHOW OF THE YEAR
    Difficult People – Hulu
    RuPaul’s Drag Race – VH1
    Sense8 – Netflix
    Transparent – Amazon
    Will & Grace – NBC

    UNSUNG TV SHOW OF THE YEAR
    American Gods – Starz
    Dear White People – Netflix
    Difficult People – Hulu
    At Home with Amy Sedaris – TruTV
    The Leftovers – HBO

    CAMPY TV SHOW OF THE YEAR
    Dynasty
    Feud: Betty and Joan
    Riverdale
    RuPaul’s Drag Race
    Will & Grace

    ‘WE’RE WILDE ABOUT YOU!’ RISING STAR AWARD
    Timothée Chalamet
    Harris Dickinson
    Tiffany Haddish
    Daniel Kaluuya
    Daniela Vega

    WILDE WIT OF THE YEAR AWARD
    (honouring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse)
    Samantha Bee
    Stephen Colbert
    Kate McKinnon
    John Oliver
    Jordan Peele

    WILDE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
    (honouring a truly groundbreaking force in the fields of film, theatre and/or television)
    Guillermo del Toro
    Greta Gerwig
    Patty Jenkins
    David Lynch
    Jordan Peele

  • BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Heteronormative

    BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Heteronormative

    What does heteronormative mean?

    Heteronormative, or heteronormativity is a word used a lot in connection with the LGBT experience. It refers to what is normally (normative) expected from society – which is, by and large, made up of mostly heterosexuals (hetero).

    So when you blast those two words together you get one that describes the normal, average way of doing things. Basically the stuff of Hollywood movies: boy meets girl, they fall in love, make children and the cycle continues.

    It is also defined as the view that promotes a heterosexual lifestyle as the normal or preferred sexual orientation and that others are wrong or deviant.

    It’s the idea that men and women fall into two very neat and distinct genders and sexuality roles.

    It is seen, largely, as deeply marginalising by the LGBTI community.

    It was coined or at least popularised by Michael Warner in 1991.

    Heteronormative behaviour could include:

    • Getting married (to someone of the opposite sex) in a Church, with bridesmaids, Father of bride and best man speeches…
    • Him climbing up the corporate ladder while she stays at home having kids.
    • Following gender expectations like: He wears trousers, she wears dresses (frilly ones with a lace hem).
    • He earns more, she makes super desserts using Angel Delight.
    • Asking why on earth the gays need a god damned pride and why can’t straights have a pride.
    • Watching a Hollywood movie knowing that the guy saves the day, gets the girl and live happily ever after.
    • Having 2.4 children.
    • That men don’t do nappies.
    • Picket fences and all that…

    As you can see, from my not so exhaustive list that basically being heteronormative is like living in the 50s. Fantastic for brand new cookers, fridges, the dawn of the jet age and brand new inventions, not so good for living your life how you’d like to – straight or gay, male or female.

    Can you expand this definition? Use the comments below and your answer could be used to expand or define this glossary entry.

    Check out more definitions in our Big Gay Glossary

  • BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Intersex

    BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Intersex

    What does intersex mean?

    What does intersex mean?

    Intersex stands for a sex variance between the binary of male and female, or Cisgender.

    Generally speaking, Cisgender people are those whose gender identity or expression conforms with their biological sex or birth sex.

    The Oxford Dictionary of English once determined the word Intersex to mean:

    the abnormal condition of being intermediate between male and female; hermaphroditism.

    • [ count noun ] an intersex individual; a hermaphrodite.

    This was updated to:

    Relating to or denoting a person or animal that has both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics: an intersex child | she identifies as intersex. The condition of having both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics: people born with intersex.• [count nouna person or animal having both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics: she is different to the other teenagers in one crucial way—she is an intersex.

    Old usage and out of date terminology.

    Hermaphrodite is generally considered a taboo word and shouldn’t be ascribed to someone unless they label themselves as such.

    Intersex and the trans community

    Trans Media Watch describes Intersex as an individual in whom genetic, hormonal and physical features that may be thought typical of both male and female co-exist.

    “individual in whom genetic, hormonal and physical features that may be thought typical of both male and female co-exist.

    “They may be thought of as being male with female features, female with male features, or may have no clearly defined sexual features.”

    Can you expand this definition? Use the comments below and your answer could be used to expand or define this glossary entry.

    Check out more definitions in our Big Gay Glossary

  • BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Power Bottom

    BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Power Bottom

    What does power bottom mean?

    What does power bottom mean?

    Power Bottoms are those who dominate in sex but are those who enjoy receiving anal sex – or someone who can power through and take the *D* for a long time.

    Those who like being both a top and the bottom are usually referred to as “vers” which means versatile.  The terms tops, bottoms and vers have been around for a long time, but have become increasingly popular since the dawn of internet dating and apps.

    Guys who like to bottom are usually great at keeping things clean and hygienic down there. Want to know more? You can read our tips on what to eat if you’re planning to bottom tonight or how to prep yourself like a porn star!

    Can you expand this definition? Use the comments below and your answer could be used to expand or define this glossary entry.

    Check out more definitions in our Big Gay Glossary

  • BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Bottom

    BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Bottom

    What does bottom mean?

    What or who is a Bottom in terms of gay sex?

    Well, it could mean a variety of things to a variety of people, but generally, the “bottom” is the guy who is the receptive partner in anal sex. Although it could be a label for someone who is more sub within sex.

    So the guy who’s underneath (or on top if you’re doing the cowboy) is known as the “bottom”. The giver is known as the “Top”. Not everybody likes the terms “top” or “bottom” for some being a bottom is seen as less than, more subservient or more effeminate, but some, like Big Brother US star Ragan Fox have empowered the word and meaning by calling themselves, “power bottoms”.

    More recently, when Nurse Jackie star, Haaz Sleiman came out as gay he totally owned the bottom thing saying, “Not only am I a bottom, but I’m also a total bottom, which means I like it up you-know-where.”

    Otherwise, you could go with giver and givee, catcher and pitcher or just their names… (no labels!)

    Apparently, there’s quite a bit of stigma attached to being a bottom. A survey found sixty per cent of readers thought that there was or weren’t sure if there was a stigma attached to bottoming or being the receiving partner during penetrative sex. Only 40 per cent said no there wasn’t a stigma.

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  • BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Gloryhole

    BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Gloryhole

    What does Gloryhole mean

    A gloryhole is a slang term mostly used in the gay cruising world. A glory hole, simply put, is a hole in a wall, door or partition, usually in a public toilet, where a man could put his penis through in order to be relieved by whoever was the other side. Gloryholes are usually to be found in men’s public toilets and comes from the days of cottaging, which is a term coined to describe anonymous sex between men in public toilets.

    Most glory holes are rush made in the partitions between toilet stalls, most likely made with pen knives or another handy tool.

    Both men, the giver and receiver of oral sex would be hidden from view from each other which adds anonymity to both parties, especially if one or neither are out as gay or bisexual.

    A glory hole can also be used for anal penetration too.

    The anonymity of glory holes to some, adds eroticism to the situation, but it does have its drawbacks especially when it comes to sexual health and personal safety. The use of condoms is advised to stop STIs such as herpes, HIV and Gonorrhea but not always acted upon.

    The use of glory holes is not illegal in the UK if the glory hole is in a private residence or a gay sauna/bathhouse. Sex in public toilets is illegal. You can find out more about the legal situation of cottaging in this article.

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  • BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Pansexual

    BIG GAY GLOSSARY | Pansexual

    What does pansexual mean?

    What does pansexual mean?

     

    Pansexuality is described and identified as a: romantic, sexual and emotional attraction to people of any sex or gender identity.

    The Oxford English Dictionary describes pansexuality as:

    “not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity.”

    Pansexual people may describe themselves as gender-blind, meaning that a person’s gender identity isn’t or might not be a deciding factor in their attraction, and some may consider a person’s gender to be irrelevant and may reject the gender binary that exists in society.

    Can you expand this definition? Use the comments below and your answer could be used to expand or define this glossary entry.

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