A same-sex couple in Houston say an Uber driver kicked them out of the car for sharing a “quick kiss.” Randall Magill, 28, and his fiancé Jose Chavez, 26, told KTVU they believe they were singled out because they were gay. The incident happened last month after leaving a holiday event at a friend’s house, they… (more…)
So here are a few things to expect should you decide to take a gay trip with a difference this year:
When people think of Israel, they think of the capital city, Tel Aviv. And while it may be the home of one of the world’s greatest and gayest pride celebrations, there is so much more to Israel than Tel Aviv.
As the birthplace of human civilisation, the history of the country is staggering. I swear our tour guide very rarely began a story that didn’t start 2,000 years ago. At least. Much of the ancient structures are still there, allowing you to experience what life was like before Jesus.
Locations like Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and Galilee, should definitely be included on any history buff’s itinerary.
Despite its profoundly religious background, Israel is THE most progressive and gay-friendly country in the entire region. Having accepted gay marriage long before the UK did, that’s made even more impressive by the fact that the region and the country are so deeply religious.
LGBT-friendly bars and clubs are everywhere in Tel Aviv, and there are plenty of LGBT tours that operate all year round for those wanting to see the sights with some fellow gays.
In some of the mountainous areas, the winter months can see snow while the rest of the country is wearing shorts. We were hiking up mountains in shorts and floating in the Dead Sea in November, and it was GLORIOUS!
Despite the thrift market feel of some of Tel Aviv’s best shopping districts, the city and the country as a whole, are not cheap. So don’t go out expecting a bargain-basement break when you visit.
Seeing as Jerusalem was where all three of the major religions were started, it’s not surprising that religion is deeply ingrained in Israel’s society to this day. It was fascinating (if not a little creepy) to be the only atheist in a city where Jesus himself hung out; seeing the tomb where he was supposedly buried, and the countless churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples crammed into this tiny little patch of land.
Every region in Israel claims to be the inventors of hummus, and that they make the best hummus in the world. So be expected to eat a lot of it. From luxury hotels to tiny street cafés, there’s plenty of variations to try, paired with endless servings of freshly baked pita. Indulge! It’s only chickpeas!
When you tell your mum you’re going to Israel, she will invariably tell you to be careful. And with so much talk about the many wars that have taken place in this tiny stretch of land over the millennia, I can understand why. It took us five days of history lessons before we could finally grasp the intensely complicated history behind the civil unrest that is still taking place. However, there were times during our tour when we were a few scant kilometres from the action, and we never heard a thing.
There are signs and novelty t-shirts making jokes about Palestine, but in my experience, it’s probably best not to joke about it too loudly if you’re not a local.
I like to think I’m fairly well-travelled, and I have NEVER experienced anything like the check-in procedures when visiting Israel. I spent easily half an hour explaining every detail about my trip and my travel history to the woman at customs, all before I’d even checked my back. (It probably didn’t help that I grew up in the Middle East and have a load of Arabic stamps in my passport).
I arrived 3 hours early, and I certainly needed that much time. They will ask lots of questions, they may take your passport and make you wait for ages, but they’re doing that so that they can keep their country safe. Do you blame them?
India Willoughby, 52, has taken a firm stance on misgendering while in the Celebrity Big Brother house and has refused to accept the apology of 82-year-old veteran actor Amanda Barrie.
In the lead up to India not accepting Corrie legend Amanda Barrie’s apology, Amanda misgendered India twice. India accused Amanda of misgendering her – and noted that the second time that Amanda chuckled about it afterwards.
Since being in the house, India has talked openly and frequently about her transition and being transgender. She took a swipe at those who identify as non-binary saying that she considered people who were “Bob on Monday and Barbara on Tuesday” cheapened the transgender experience.
Ann Widdecombe, Rachel Johnson and Amanda Barrie all misgendered the newscaster.
Amanda later sought out India who was sitting alone in the garden. When Amanda apologised for the incident, India refused to accept the apology saying “Apology not accepted”.
Her refusal to accept and move on from Amanda’s mistake was met with anger from some viewers on Twitter, who suggested that India needed to let the issue go.
Wow I was so fully supportive of India at the beginning but no one goes at Amanda like that! Build a bridge and get over it! #cbb #cbbindia
— laurajean.x3 ? (@sedgi_xo) January 6, 2018
#CBBIndia stop acting the victim. A mistake was made twice by an old lady. U wouldnt spk to your gran like that if anything india is the one victimising. Needs someone to put the bullying cow in her place cant stand her
— Just Ask (@reddevste99) January 6, 2018
#CBBIndia stop acting the victim. A mistake was made twice by an old lady. U wouldnt spk to your gran like that if anything india is the one victimising. Needs someone to put the bullying cow in her place cant stand her
— Just Ask (@reddevste99) January 6, 2018
This drives me mad with Trans they make everyone feel unconfortable when its them that bangs on about their journey and u was a he then now a she blah blah blah
be a ADULT &correctly politely correct ppl or better still shut the fuck up #CBBIndia #cbb— natsissuper (@natsissuper) January 6, 2018
CBB continues tonight on Channel 5 at 9 PM
Courtney Act is a famous drag queen from Austrailia. Courtney came to fame in Austrailian when Shane Jenek (Courtney’s male persona) entered Austrailian Idol in 2003. As Courtney, Shane went on to star in the show as a wildcard but was eliminated in the semifinals.
Then in 2014, Courtney Act took part in RuPaul’s Drag Race, where she was runner-up to Bianca Del Rio.
No, Courtney Act is not transgender but is a drag queen by Shane Jenek. However, Shane did cause confusion in Austrailia when appearing weekly as Courtney Act in Austrailian Idol. Speaking to THEGAYUK.com Shane said, “I went along the first day (to the auditions) as a boy and I got knocked back and I went the next day in drag so if you missed that episode then you didn’t quite get what was going on. But because I got through as Courtney they insisted that I did the whole thing in drag.
Yes, although Shane told us that queer is probably more accurate. Speaking to THEGAYUK.com Shane said, “Not often do I actively go out to look for sex with women or anything, but I still think women are attractive, and I’ve had sex with women over the years… I like men and I like having sex with men, but queer for me says that I’m not going to conform to the concept that I should like men or I should like women or I need to conform to a stereotype of society. It says that I’m me and I’m going to express myself freely – have sex with who I want, when I want, and with as many as I want. Or none at all. It’s about the individual’s personal feelings rather than the identity of a group.”
Courtney Act or Shane Jenek is now in Celebrity Big Brother – every night on Channel 5 from 9 PM
A white glove bottom is a guy who won’t bottom (be penetrated by another guy) unless he’s completely sure he’s completely clean if you get our drift. So basically he’s the type who will most probably douche or use an enema before penetration to ensure there’s no mess… ever.
Not every man who bottoms is a “white glove bottom” – if you know your body and have a good diet it isn’t always necessary to be excessive with your cleaning.
But if you’re worried about mess, use a condom. These things happen and it’s not the end of the world.
Check out more definitions in our Big Gay Glossary
Ever heard the expression “he’s a platinum gay?” No, he’s not a blonde bombshell.
Well, for those of you who have and are wondering what exactly a “Platinum Gay” is we’ve got the answer.
So according to one source, a “platinum gay” is a man who has never kissed, touched or had any sexual contact with a woman.
In fact, the Urban Dictionary goes as far as to suggest that a true “Platinum” is a guy who was born by caesarian section so has never had contact with any vagina.
However, some may find the term offensive as it could possibly denote that a man who hasn’t ever touched female genitalia is somehow better than someone who identifies with the same sexuality, which is clearly crazy talk. Your gayness is just as good as everybody else’s!
We had no idea that we could be arranged by precious metals but there you go.
Check out more definitions in our Big Gay Glossary
The 2 in LGBTQ2 stands for ‘two-spirit’. It is an umbrella term for being a “two-spirit” described as a Native (North) American who identifies as non-binary, non-cisgendered or genderqueer. It could also refer to someone who identifies as non-heterosexual. It is used to describe certain spiritual people. It is not interchangeable with LGBT Native American.
Wikipedia explains, “it is a sacred, spiritual and ceremonial role that is recognised and confirmed by the Elders of the Two Spirit’s ceremonial community. While some have found the term a useful tool for intertribal organising, not all Native cultures conceptualise gender or sexuality this way, and most tribes use names in their own languages.”
It was adopted in 1990 to replace an outdated and now considered offensive term.
The term is not widely used outside North America.
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
AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is a condition where there is a critical loss of the body’s cellular immunity. People who have AIDS have an incredible lack of immunity from infections and disease, which eventually causes their deaths. AIDS was identified in the early 1980s and there began the AIDS epidemic. Millions of people around the globe have been affected by AIDS.
AIDS itself does not kill people, it’s the complications brought on by AIDS that actually kills a person. Which is why it is correct to say that someone “died due to an AIDS-related illness” or as “a complication of AIDS”, rather than “s/he died from AIDS”.
The cause of AIDS is a virus called HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus). It is transmitted mainly through blood and sexual fluids such as semen. There is no cure, although the condition can be managed with drugs, extending the lifespan to near normal length.
There’s also preventative medicine, commonly known as PrEP, which when taken as prescribed by a doctor, is very effective in stopping HIV transmission.
In the West, AIDS was seen, in the 80s as a homosexual disease. It killed many gay and bisexual men in the early days. It stumped doctors, scientists and politicians. The early response was considered woefully inadequate. Slowly as more information came to light it was discovered that AIDS was not just confined to the gay community. For a more in-depth reading about how HIV/AIDS affected the gay community in the early to mid-80s, read Randy Shilts book, And The Band Played On.
In Africa, where there are many people living with HIV/AIDS transmission happens mostly between heterosexual people.
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
Let us help you pick your next comedy binge on Netflix.
It’s about a rich to rags family… Businessman Johnny and Soap star Moira Rose lose their fortune, but they still have their twenty-something-year-old kids (David and Alexis) – and a town called Schitt’s Creek, which the dad once bought for a joke. Starring Catherine O’Hara (mother from Home Alone) along with Eugene Levy (Dad from American Pie) and Dan Levy (his son).
New to Netflix, this is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Due to an error, self-absorbed Eleanor Shellstrop arrives at the Good Place after her death. Determined to stay, she tries to become a better person. Starring Frozen’s Kristen Bell and Ted Danson. There are two series to dive straight into…
Joel (Timothy Olyphant) and Sheila (Drew Barrymore) are husband and wife estate agents in the US leading vaguely discontented lives in the LA suburb of Santa Clarita with their teenaged daughter Abby, until Sheila goes through a dramatic change sending their lives down a road of death and destruction…but in a good way.
Big Mouth is a 10-episode, half-hour edgy adult animated comedy from real-life best friends Nick Kroll (Kroll Show, The League) and Andrew Goldberg (Family Guy) about the glorious nightmare that is teenaged puberty.
Girlboss is inspired by the New York Times best-selling book #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso, founder of the fashion brand Nasty Gal. The series centres on Amoruso (Britt Robertson), who began selling vintage clothes on eBay and, by the age of 28, had built the multi-million dollar fashion empire, Nasty Gal. Unfortunately, Netflix hasn’t commissioned this for a second series, which is a shame.
Atypical is a coming of age story that follows Sam (played by Keir Gilchrist), an 18-year-old on the autistic spectrum as he searches for love and independence. While Sam is on his funny yet emotional journey of self-discovery, the rest of his family must grapple with change in their own lives as they all struggle with the central theme: what does it really mean to be normal?
Now in its third series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has been a runaway hit for Netflix. Kimmy, who has been living in a cult for 15 years, in an underground bunker, comes to terms with life in New York.
In Grace and Frankie, Jane Fonda (“Grace”) and Lily Tomlin (“Frankie”) star as two women whose lives are suddenly turned upside down when their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, they form an unlikely bond to face an uncertain future together and discover a new definition of “family,” with laughter, tears and plenty of mood enhancers along the way
The Pulse nightclub gunman’s wife knew he was going to conduct an attack when he left their home on the day of the shooting, according to her statement to law enforcement that was recently made public. (more…)
Misgendering is when someone accidentally or deliberately refers to a person with the wrong gender pronoun. It can happen to cisgender and transgender people.
Referring to a trans woman as “he” saying “him” or “his” or a trans man as a “she” or “her” is misgendering.
It is considered deeply offensive to some trans people – especially if the misgendering is done with malice or deliberately.
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