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  • BBC accused of appropriating HIV/AID red ribbon symbol for its COVID-19 Tree of Lives

    ‘Tree of Lives’ branded “Unbelievably inappropriate & wholly insensitive”

    BBC North West has come under fire after it invited people to commemorate victims of the COVID-19 pandemic by tieing a red ribbon to a tree on World AIDS Day, they called the project, Tree Of Lives.

    The Tweet, which was from the official BBC North West Twitter account wrote,

    “Thousands of people across our region have lost loved ones to Covid-19. Join us at BBC NW to remember those that have died, by tying a red ribbon to your Christmas tree or a tree in your garden.”

    https://twitter.com/BBCNWT/status/1333726812120223744

    However, the corporation has been accused of appropriating an established symbol of HIV/AIDs – the red ribbon.

    bbc tree of lives

    The red ribbon has been in use since 1991 as a way of commemorating the millions who have died from AIDS since the 1980s.

    One Twitter user, Scubamonkey, blasted the BBC saying, “Unbelievably inappropriate & wholly insensitive on #WorldAIDSDay2020. I’ve every sympathy for those who have lost loved ones to #Covid, but this appropriation of an established symbol of #HIV & #AIDS is an appalling insult to those people who have lost their lives to #HIV. It is quite frankly unbelievable how you insult and trample over one set of grieving families to show solidarity and support to another. It speaks volumes about where your priorities lie”

    Another, Lkeels, wrote, “What an asinine choice to take the red ribbon for your own cause and ON WORLD AIDS DAY OF ALL DAYS!!! You should be ashamed of this.”

    HIV advocate, Tom Knight added, “I’m sure you meant well but your ignorance is shocking, and to say you ‘thought it through’. This is so disrespectful.”

    This is the second symbol appropriated from the LGBT+ community in 2020. The Pride rainbow flag which was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1979 became synonymous with the NHS and COVID-19 during the early months of the pandemic in the UK.

    “We did consider the colour ribbon very carefully”

    A response by the BBC Twitter feed responded to some of the criticism saying, “we did consider what colour ribbon to use very carefully- most colours are associated with a cause which is why this is tied differently.”

    Tweet deleted

    Since publication, the Tweet, which shared information on the Tree of Lives has been deleted.

    The BBC issued an appology via Twitter saying,

    “We have deleted a tweet about our project to pay tribute to COVID victims. Given we have used red ribbons as part of it, we understand why some people found it insensitive on World AIDS Day. We’re sorry.

    “We have been working closely with those who have lost loved ones to COVID and this initiative is to remember those who have died during the pandemic. “

    Why is the red ribbon used to remember World AIDS Day

    red ribbon is linked with AIDS not the bbc's Tree Of Lives
    Photo by Anna Shvets / PEXELS

    The Red Ribbon symbol has become the defining icon for the awareness, fundraising and determination to beat HIV and AIDS. It’s strong, vibrant red, a symbol that has become synonymous with every 1st December, was designed in 1991.

    A decade after AIDS began its stranglehold, decimating communities, a coalition of 12 artists gathered to devise a plan to raise awareness for Visual Aids, a New York arts organisation which raises awareness of HIV.

    The 12 people consisted of photographers, painters, filmmakers and costume designers. After a short collaboration they came up with the striking, but the simple idea of the red ribbon, inspired by the yellow ribbons tied on trees at the time, to denote support for US military fighting in the Gulf war.

    The red ribbon logo became recognisable across the globe.

    THEGAYUK.com reached out to the BBC for further comment.

  • Umbrella star comes out as trans, and is now Elliot Page

    The actor formerly known as Ellen Page has said that he is now to be known as Elliot Page as he comes out as transgender in an Instagram post.

    The X Men, Umbrella Academy and Tales Of The City star wrote an emotional post telling fans that his pronouns were now he or they, them theirs.

    In the letter posted to his Instagram account, Elliot wrote,

    “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot.

    “I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life.”

    “I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self,” he wrote.

    “I’ve been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place. I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society.”

    “My joy is real, but it is also fragile,” he added

    Embed from Getty Images

    “The truth is, despite feeling profoundly happy right now and knowing how much privilege I carry, I am also scared.

    “I’m scared of the invasiveness, the hate, the ‘jokes’ and of violence. To be clear, I am not trying to dampen a moment that is joyous and one that I celebrate, but I want to address the full picture.”

    Elliot also acknowledged the attacks and slayings of trans folx in 2020 of which there have been at least 40 reported, adding,

    “I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive. To all the trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse, and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you, and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”

    Elliot’s letter to fans, was greatly received and garnered over 407,000 likes and hundreds of positive comments, one of which was from the official Umbrella Academy Instagram account, which simply said, “proud of our superhero!! WE LOVE YOU ELLIOT!!!”

  • Austin Armacost shows off his “Mangina”

    Austin Armacost shows off his “Mangina”

    Yep, he called it that…

    It’s been a while since we’ve heard or seen anything from the Celebrity Big Brother star, but he certainly got his fans feeling the thirst with a saucy pic on his Instagram feed.

    Sitting completely naked in his bath, Austin Armacost wrote that he was in his happy place, despite not being in his native USA, to celebrate Thanks Giving last week due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic.

    Instead he was celebrating it at his west-Yorkshire home.

    He wrote, that he “should be gobbling on turkey and pumpkin pie” but would make do with a hot bath.

    In and amongst the dozens of replies to the picture one of his commentators, simply replied, “Vagina” to which the ever-sassy Austin quipped, “it is a MANgina darling”.

    Austin is no stranger to a bit of nudity, back in the Celebrity Big Brother days, for which he starred in the show twice, would be usually one of the first to strip off and jump into the pool.

    Since his time on TV, he has kept his fans excited with plenty of nudity, like this, this and this.

    So what do you think about his Mangina? Ever heard of the expression before.

    What does Mangina mean?

    It is a combination of the word man and vagina and in this context, it is not a slur or an insult, but a word to liken a guy’s ass to a vagina. However for some the word mangina can be extremely offensive.

  • What does Mangina mean and is it offensive?

    What does Mangina mean and is it offensive?

    The word Mangina seemingly has a few meanings and its ability to cause offense depends on who is using the word, why they are using it and how. Or to put it simply, the context in which the word is used.

    Is Mangina offensive to say?

    According to Dictionary.com Mangina is actually an insult or slur against any man who is perceived to be effeminate or any guy who identifies as a feminist. It can also be used, according to the site, as an insult to the genitals of persons of all gender identities.

    This definition is also backed up by Urban Dictionary who have a few definitions for the word.

    is mangina offensive?
    (C) BIGSTOCK

    However, within the gay community and particularly sexually active guys, Mangina can be used as a descriptor for a guy’s butt hole. It is a combination of the word man and vagina. In this context, it is not a slur or an insult especially when used by a guy about his own genitals or body or sexual preference.

    One example of this was when Celebrity Big Brother star, Austin Armacost referred to his own “mangina” after a commentator wrote, “vagina” on a naked picture he posted.

    Another word to describe a bottom’s bottom might be bussy which is a combination of the word boy and pussy.

    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

  • REMEMBERING THE AIDS CRISIS: Memories of 1980’s UK

    REMEMBERING THE AIDS CRISIS: Memories of 1980’s UK

    I remember only too well when AIDS first impacted on my world and came into the public eye.

    In 1981 I was 19 and there was talk in the gay clubs and pubs where I lived of a disease originating in monkeys that was killing Americans. I remember there was a lone American visiting for professional reasons and he was considered as guilty by association, just because of his accent. I look back with shame now on how people were afraid to approach him and how the treatment he received was similar to that in the dark ages a leper might have expected, minus the bell to ring and the calling out of the phrase “unclean”.

    Over the next couple of years, probably longer, as it took time for information and knowledge to disseminate. The names of those who had contracted the condition made it appeared to be an illness that blighted the pretty boys and those who had the biggest cocks.

    Of course, that is not true. It’s just where I lived there was a small gay circle and once infected those who were sexually promiscuous and practised unsafe sex were the first to be hit and through them as HIV spread rapidly.

    There was too little information and it was too late, that was part of the problem. The other problem was a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mentality. People thought it wouldn’t happen where they lived or to them as it was affecting other parts of the globe. In the 1980s the world was getting smaller and people travelled for work, holiday and to play in the gay hot-spots.

    For me, it was the indiscriminate nature of the illness. There were personal losses of people I knew.

    In the media, the death of Rock Hudson seemed to have an impact. In the USA I recall a movement quilting and marking the lives of the victims they knew in this way. There were powerful images of the time where over vast areas these quilts were laid out with loved ones present.

    There was a TV program about a man called Terry Madeley. In interviews in 1987, he was the first in the UK to speak openly about his fight with AIDS. A year later a program about his fight for death with dignity was aired on 1st December 1988 World AIDS day. It was titled Remember Terry and 29 years ago today, I still do. He had died in the previous October and I recall an image broadcast at the funeral in a crematorium of a hand through the curtain wearing a diamante glove waving goodbye. He appeared to have such strength of character and good humour for those snippets to stay with me.

    To be in 2017 when there is a more positive outlook  – I can’t help pausing to consider and remember all of those who do not have the opportunity to share today.

    This article was first published in 2017 and has been updated with links.

  • There are 84 naked guys in the latest Naked Rugby Players calendar

    There are 84 naked guys in the latest Naked Rugby Players calendar

    Despite the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, The world-famous Naked Rugby Players return with a new calendar The Naked Rugby Players – Unseen Bits for 2021 and is one of our favourite LGBT+ Calendars. Best of al it features never seen before images!

    Speaking about the changes the calendar had to make during 2020, principal photographer Monty McKinnen told us, “It sadly turned out to be impossible to shoot 6 rugby teams during 2020 as the pandemic raged through our communities and everyone kept at social distances”

    “Despite this, we’ve rummaged through the thousands of images from our past shoots to bring fans of the calendar never before seen pictures, from 12 teams across the UK.” 

    84 Naked Rugby Players

    The Naked Rugby Players Calendar 2021 – Unseen Bits features 84 players from twelve Inclusive Rugby teams from across the UK.

    Once again the calendar has teamed up with the Balls To Cancer charity to bring awareness of male cancers and features a monthly reminder to check ourselves for any unusual signs. 

    The calendar is available from TheNakedRugbyPlayes.com, TackleMag.co.uk and Amazon.  

  • Urban dictionary has a definition for “Gay Fart” and it’s really not that funny

    Urban dictionary has a definition for “Gay Fart” and it’s really not that funny

    Had you ever heard of a “gay fart” before? No, nor us, but apparently it’s a phrase and it’s even got its own definition thanks to Urban Dictionary.

    According to one of the entries on Urban Dictionary, ‘gay fart’ means, “A genuinely sweet, or pleasantly odourless expression of flatulence. Though not always a fart cut by homosexuals, they do tend to do this while they bake cookies and share a laugh about it.

    In this context “Bake Cookies” means sex.

    Then for context purposes, there’s the sentence,

    “Pete did you just fart? It smells like freshly cut grass, what have you been eating, sperm?”

    Cut grass means “gang bang” according to the website.

    Surprisingly, the website holds not one but three possible entries for what a gay fart could mean.

    Relying on tired gay sex tropes for gay fart comedy

    gay fart jokes rely on a homophobic trope about anal sex
    EME / Pixabay

    Another meaning offered up by the website is, “a silent fart that is often difficult to hear because it just seeps out of your A-hole as if the hole was very loose (like after a penis has been in there).”

    This particular definition makes use of that rather tired gay sex myth that people who enjoy anal sex have loose sphincters, giving rise the rumour that men who engaged in anal sex, eventually have to wear tampons, which, by the way, isn’t true.

    While a third explanation offers, “An act of flatulence that tends to smell like semen as if gay butt sex has taken place at one point. Homosexuals tend to enjoy gay farts by flatuating (not actually a word) gay farts in one another’s mouths.”

    The three definitions were written in 2006, 2008 and 2009 respectively.

    Hilarious homophobia. Just what the world needs.

  • What does AMAB mean? And is it offensive to use?

    What does AMAB mean? And is it offensive to use?

    AMAB stands for Assigned Male At Birth, where a person’s gender was given by medical professionals based on the baby’s genitalia found at birth giving a person a biological sex marker on their birth certificate. In this case, AMAB would mean that doctors or midwives found the baby to have a penis, therefore, would assign male to their birth certificate.

    Using the AMAB acronym could also be used to describe a person’s former gender or biological sex identity – used in the case where the person now lives as non-binary, a trans woman or feminine-presenting or a factual status on a man’s gender identity.

    Is using AMAB to describe someone offensive to say?

    Is using AMAB to describe someone offensive to say?
    Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

    No, but as with most language, it is how the words are applied or the context in which they are used where offensive can be taken. As being described as AMAB is a fact it shouldn’t be considered problematic unless the person you are referring to has said that they are uncomfortable with being called by a certain term. It could in the case of a transgender person out them as trans, or lead to a situation of deadnaming or deadgendering.

    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

  • FILM REVIEW | Ghosts of the Republique – Gay French couple desperately want a child

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    A newly married French gay couple journey to America to find a surrogate in the moving documentary ‘Ghosts of the Republique.’

    It was love at first sight for Aurelien and Nicolas when they meet at a gay club in Paris. They wind up getting married and such begins the film and their journey. It’s 2014 and estate agent Nicolas and flight attendant Aurelien make a perfect couple, while both their parents have accepted the fact that their gay sons would never be parents. Even Nicolas’s mother is happy to now have two sons but upset that she’ll never be happy as she’ll never have a grandchild.

    However, Aurelien and Nicolas do want to have a child, but they face serious obstacles – the most difficult one being that the French government does not allow surrogacy. It’s a government that passed same-sex marriage in 2013 but is not quite progressive enough. Aurelien and Nicolas are so determined to be parents that they fly to Las Vegas to start a family of their own through international surrogacy. They search high and low for an egg donor and also a surrogate to carry the egg to produce a child. They interview several local women, make decisions, and proceed with the process.

    It’s a process that’s complex, full of loopholes and uncertainty, and where every step has to go perfect and according to plan. Getting their non-French born baby back into France and establishing French citizenship is another hurdle to tackle. We go through the highs and the lows with Aurelien and Nicolas in the documentary – it’s an emotional ride made bearable by the charming couple who desperately want a baby, and we see them travel back and forth from France to the US several times to check in their baby mama.

    Ghosts of the Republique, directed by American Jonathon Narducci, provides us with much joy and drama in this sweet and touching story of Aurelien and Nicolas. 

    Ghosts of the Republique is now available on Amazon Prime, iTunes and other platforms.

  • Drag and cabaret artists “overlooked” by Government’s tier system

    Drag and cabaret artists “overlooked” by Government’s tier system

    It goes without saying that the bar, pub and club industry has been completely brutalised by lockdowns and Tier systems in place in the UK caused by the on-going coronavirus pandemic.

    As Boris Johnson’s administration announced which areas in England would be placed into which tiers, many cities which have large LGBT+ scenes found themselves in Tier 3, leaving them unable to open unless operating as a takeaway or drive through. Many gay bars are simply not set up to handle or offer food.

    Earlier this week Boris Johnson’s handling of the crisis was described by the CEO of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern as “inflicting devastating pain to an industry on the verge of collapse”.

    Live venues and performer in Tier system overlooked by government

    One drag performer tweeted Boris Johnson demanding to know why certain settings like theatres, casinos, theme parks and escape rooms were permitted to open yet live venues which, do not offer food, but offer live entertainment such as cabaret and drag shows were not permitted to open.

    Carrot, a non-binary drag performer wrote,

    “Live performers & venues in music, cabaret & drag need clarity from @10DowningStreet NOW. Why can theatres open and sell drinks in the intervals, when live venues who have spent huge amounts of £s and time making safe allocated seating cannot without selling food?”

    “Why can casinos & theme parks & escape rooms open in tier 2, places that are essentially impossible to clean entirely & keep safe, yet pubs & bars with allocated seating and table service cannot?

    “Live artists & venues have lost so much already & are still being overlooked.

    “It’s really heartbreaking. and yet somehow completely unsurprising.”

    How does hospitality contribute to the rising numbers of Coronavirus cases?

    Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association said, “Hospitality has accounted for as little as 2% of Covid cases”, and Kate Nicholls CEO, UK Hospitality said, “Pubs and restaurants pay the price of tougher tier restrictions – no other sector are facing restrictions like these.”

    Government data has shown that house-to-house mixing has the highest rate of rates of transmission for the virus.

    Bars and clubs have closed because of COVID-19 restrictions.

    2020 has seen numerous gay bar closures. Earlier in the year, Birmingham’s Eden Bar was forced to close due to devastating restraints placed on the pub industry. Also in the West Midlands, Midland Zone magazine also fell victim to the economic downturn.

    gay and drag bars closed because of covid tier system

    Nottingham’s only LGBT+ club, Propaganda closed in May and in Brighton, two venues have already shuttered. This month The Broadway closed and earlier in the year Legends fell into administration, before being reopened by new owners.

  • This might be the most disturbing face mask you can buy

    This might be the most disturbing face mask you can buy

    But we’d be lying if we said we never had balls on our face before…

    Ever had balls to the face?

    Face Masks are a legal requirement now for so many parts of our existence now, whether it’s going to the shops, sitting in a theatre or travelling on public transport, but no one said what the face mask had to look like.

    You could go for a nice rainbow face mask or, you could, go for this scrotum face mask, complete with wrinkles and tiny little hair follicles.

    • testicle face mask
    Ⓒ BILLYS BALL BAGS

    The face mask, which is produced in Blackpool is essentially a silicone mask that looks like a wrinkly ball sack. It’s sold by BillysBallBags.com, which is a shop that only sells ball bag merchandise. Of course. And why are we only just finding out about this shop!

    Is the testicle face mask legal?

    Well, as far as we can tell, they do comply with the law that requires you to wear a face-covering in certain settings. However, you might offend a few people or even get a few funny looks from your co-workers if you rock to your place of work with a set of balls on your face.

    So what’s the price of this scrotum face mask? Well, you’re looking at a bill for £24.99, however, demand has apparently been “So high” that they are currently not available while the shop “catches up” on orders of the mask.

    You can even order a darker or lighter shade as skin tone variations are allowed!

    https://twitter.com/billysballbags/status/1328745047093809154

    It’s not entirely sure whose ball bag was used as a template.

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