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  • Germany votes to allow same-sex marriages

    German same-sex couples are one step closer to being able to legally get married.

    Although gay couples can have civil partnerships at the moment, the law does not permit same-sex marriages.

    MPs in Germany voted overwhelmingly to legalise gay marriage on the last day of June. Nearly four hundred MPs voted in favour of allowing same-sex marriage. The votes were split: 393 members of parliament voted in favour of the bill, with 296 voting against and 4 abstentions.

    Up until now same-sex couples in Germany were only able to get a civil partnership.

    Legal code in Germany will now be changed to read “Marriage is entered into for life by two people of different or the same sex.”

    Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel was on of the MPs who voted against the law – having all set out her thoughts that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. During a YouTube interview she said, ” “For me, personally, marriage is a man and a woman living together. That is my concept, but I support civil partnerships.”

  • Channel 4’s Naked Attraction had trans and pan dating hopefuls and people loved it!

    Channel 4’s controversial dating show Naked Attraction had naked trans and pansexual people strip off and people loved the inclusivity.

     

    In a Naked Attraction first, trans and pansexual dating hopefuls were added to the naked panel. The show’s second season premiere featured self-identified pansexual Lizzy who came out after one year of university and says she is open to all genders saying, “I’m attracted to everyone”.

    Speaking about being transgender, presenter Anna Richardson said,

    “Transgender people identify with a different sex to the one they were assigned at birth. To bring their body in line with how they identify some take hormones to promote physical changes within their bodies.

    “Of the estimated half a million transgender people in the UK, only a third have gender confirmation surgery where their sexual organs are altered”.

    Lizzy had six of naked people to choose from including two trans people.

    Naturally, the good people of Twitter had a lot to say about the programme, but the representation of trans people was generally appreciated, with some pointing out that trans representation on mainstream television was poor and that Naked Attraction’s approach deserved kudos.

     

    https://twitter.com/imjustboujee/status/880542426246426624

    https://twitter.com/ChrisChetal73/status/880562849940217856

    https://twitter.com/W4352/status/880543549514805251

     

    Watch the entire episode on All4.

  • Do you know what a “Scally” is? Are you one?

    Here at THEGAYUK towers, among many important life and death gay related topics we discuss, it came out that one of our numbers didn’t know what the term scally was (they claim to be innocent, but I’m suspicious).

    What is a scally lad?

    So in my hunt for a decent explanation (other than just saying google it or search porn sites for it) I found that it was in the dictionary!! I did laugh at this…

    (in the North-West of England, especially Liverpool) a roguish self-assured young person, typically a man, who is boisterous, disruptive or irresponsible.

    I won’t even begin to tell you what Urban Dictionary one as and although the word is in the dictionary you only really ever see the term in gay porn (I couldn’t find any straight porn with it in).  “Gay scally gets f**ked in the changing rooms” and that sort of thing (I can assure you this was all for journalistic and research purposes).

    Does anyone remember the character of Carl Gallagher from the Channel 4 series Shameless? Basically, a scally is him. That look, that attitude, that general body shape and that fashion. You may have liked the scally look and never even noticed it. I’m glad that I can put a ‘thing’ on my mild fantasies over Carl from Shameless. Oh, the things you could do with him… ahem.

    So it got me thinking (again, some series and thought provoking stuff), are there other terms for things in the gay world that we have may have heard of but haven’t a clue what they actually are? Now as you know I’m sweet innocent little old me, so I went off with an innocent little spring in my step to do a little research. And boy what a rabbit hole I seem to have fallen down. Have you heard of any of these?

    Otter – a younger gay man with body hair with a slim body shape (that’s totally me once I’ve gotten back down the gym, said while eating sweets).
    Bear – an older gay man with (and without) body hair with a larger body shape (that’s me if I don’t back down the gym anytime soon, and yes I’m making this about me).
    Cub – a  younger gay man with (and without) hair with a larger body shape.
    Pup – a man (or woman) who, in behaviour and dress, takes on the role of a dog or puppy.
    Wolf – an older gay man with body hair with a slim body shape.
    Twink / Chicken – a young slim guy with no body hair.
    Chicken Hawk* – an older guy that ‘preys’ on Chickens / Twink.
    Snowball – to spit cum into the mouth of another.
    Daddy – an older man (or anyone over 30 according to 18-23 year-olds on Grindr).
    Gimp – a man (or woman) that has all limbs and sense restricted (can be in rubber, leather etc).

    Now, most of these I’d heard of in one form or another (I know, shocking right?). But there seems to be more and more appearing all the time.  It is almost like the more people campaign against ‘labels’ the more labels people seem to create. Others I’ve found include furries, kittens, alphas, pigs, switches etc. I could go into each detail for each one but that’s quite enough excitement for one day boys and girls.

    If someone was to call you one of these, how would you feel? I know it annoys the hell out of me when some 20 something calls me daddy on Grindr. I’m 30!! The cheek of it.

    But if someone calls you a twink, or even an otter, is that a good thing? Is it something to embrace and say “balls to it, if I’m going to be a bear I’m going to be a bear” (as an example)? I know we often don’t like labels, but are these ones just harmless fun in different communities? I say yes!

    So whatever you may or may not be (or even what you want to be), enjoy it; live it; and have fun.

    Now I’m off to do some more “research”…

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • YouTube video for pride flooded with hateful comments

    A video released by YouTube to celebrate pride has been flooded with hateful messages.

    There’ still so much to do!

    The video which was released two days ago by YouTube Spolight has received over 200,000 thumbs down, whilst likes have not yet topped 160,000. Tens of thousands of people have commented on the video with many of them giving it a poor review.

    Many people have also complained that the video’s dislike feature is malfunctioning with some alleging their dislike being deleted.

    The video features segments from Tyler Oakley and RuPaul and Mykki Blanco.

    Here are a sample of the Top 8 comments on the video.

     

     

     

  • What are the bisexual myths that drive you mad?

    We’re asking our readers which are the most annoying and totally outrageous bisexual myths that you want to dispell…

     

     

    Use the form below to let us know the totally and utterly annoying bisexual myths that need to be dispelled. We’ll publish your answers in a forthcoming article, so watch out for it!

     

  • Aberdeenshire man gets unpaid work punishment after homophobic police fight

    A man has been punished with 50 hours of unpaid work after a fight with police.

    Gavin Knights, 20, was sentenced at the Aberdeen Sheriff Court to 50 unpaid work after admitting to threatening behaviour towards police on the 13th June. His defence, David Sutherland, said that alcohol had induced “fairly shocking behaviour.”

    During the incident, Mr Gavin uttered threats towards the police, as well as kicked a police van and used homophobic language.

    Mr Knight will also be under supervision for nine months.

     

     

  • Jaguar’s New Wimbledon Hero with Clare Balding and Andy Murray

    A hot sunny day in June saw the launch of Jaguar’s new XF Sportbrake released to the world via the internet and to journalists from the motoring and sports worlds in the Brick Lane area of London.

    Tennis was very much the theme for the launch of Jaguar’s much awaited Sporting estate car that completes the XF range well. And just in time for its official use during Wimbledon in just a few weeks time. For the third time running, Jaguar is this year’s car of choice providing XF Sportbrake, XF, XJ and F-PACE. Try and keep count. Expect to see a lot of luxury with 170 cars on loan.

    Ian Callum, Head of Jaguar Design was there to give a brief over the cars’ new design and importance. Meanwhile, Nick Collins was informing us about the great sale success Jaguar are having at the moment with sales doubling within the last year. There are some exciting times to come from Jaguar. The black cat is on the prowl.

    The lovely Clare Balding started off proceedings introducing the car with the help of the ball boys and girls lifting the covers across a makeshift tennis court. This revealed the stunning looking new car in the only fitting colour, white.

    Britain’s tennis number 1 Andy Murray and boxing champion Anthony Joshua demonstrated the 1700 litre boot with their trophies. Those boxers belts are not small by any stretch of the imagination. And from June 15th to July 2nd, Andy’s trophy will be travelling around the country in the XF Sportbrake. Andy Murray himself said, “Letting go of the trophy will be difficult, but there’s no better vehicle than the Jaguar XF Sportbrake to take it on this UK tour. I’m pleased that people are going to be able to get up close to the trophy when it visits schools and tennis clubs, and hopefully, it might encourage people to pick up a racket this Summer.”

    Proceedings continued with strawberries and cream and a tennis match between the sporting stars and Jimmy Carr and Rob Brydon. To make it fairer it was evenly matched with sports star and comedian pairings. Commentary being done by Clare and Tim Henman.

    Many new and innovative features are to be found on the new XF. Cabin Air Ionisation gives you and your family clean air, Gesture Control lets you operate the panoramic sun blind or open the boot when your arms are full of kit, forget the keyring and swim, surf, cycle or run with an activity key. And to help with the lifestyle the new XF comes with a handy two-tonne towing capacity lets you take the trailer, boat, jet ski or horse box

    THEGAYUK hope to get a first-hand experience of the new XF Sportbrake as and when they become available to the press. The car did pretty much go into production during the launch. so watch this space. Prices start from £34,910.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Gallery Mess, London

    ★★★★| Gallery Mess

    Gallery Mess, London

    Gallery Mess is a restaurant that ticks all the boxes: location, food, service and atmosphere.

    Situated right next to the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea on Kings Road, Gallery Mess is everything you would want and expect it to be. Overlooking the Saatchi Gallery lawn called The Green and the multi-million-pound townhouses on the other side, Gallery Mess is elegant and classy without being too expensive.

    A friend and I dined there on a recent warm evening at 7 pm only to find the place buzzing. Since it was very warm that night, the outside tables were all full, but we were happy to sit inside to enjoy the cool ambience of the restaurant. And boy was it cool: white tablecloths, exposed red brick walls with white arches and vaulting ceilings, flowers (some fake) everywhere, plus interesting artwork as well (including a big shoe in the private dining room). But we were there for the food, and here’s how it went.

    Tim the manager from Albania greeted us very warmly and showed us to our table. We let him decide what we were going to eat, and drink, and me and my dining companion said ‘bring it on’! To start off with we were given a very nice glass of Prosecco Brut (£8.50) a glass. And then the symphony of food started. The Heritage Tomato (basically a bruschetta) with grilled rosemary focaccia, anchovies and mozzarella was vey good and was nice size portion, but a little pricey at £10.50 as it was really nothing out of the ordinary. What was good was the English air-cured ham & celeriac remoulade (£10). The ham, with apple and truffle as well, was very tender and just perfectly salty and beautifully presented.

     

    We weren’t too sure what we were getting as our main courses, and were pleasantly surprised when the chicken and the trout landed on our very white tablecloth. The Roast corn-fed Chicken Breast was a beautifully presented dish in a wonderful tarragon sauce which included mushrooms and spring greens. The four large slices of chicken were, of course, just chicken, but they were perfectly cooked and the onion bulbs in the sauce gave it the kick to push the meal up a level. Delicious, and at £16.50, a good value. But it was the Poached Sea Trout that was the star dish of the evening. A very large piece, yellow in color, in a mussel broth, with spinach and samphire, it was absolutely wonderful! I am not a trout lover at all, but this piece of trout has converted me. It was thick, and cooked perfectly, and is highly recommended, and at £17.50 – the best-tasting bargain that side of the river! We also had a side of the minted new potatoes, sprinkled with dill (£4) that were huge in portion and very very good. Other main course choices include Potato Gnocchi (£16), Confit Lamb Shoulder (£17.50) and surprisingly, Fish & Chips (£16) – all very affordable for such an expensive neighbourhood.

    Tim expertly picked out the Via Nova Pinot Grigio to go with our dinner (only £5.75 a glass). The wine was tasty without tasting too winey, and absolutely complemented our meal. My dining companion liked it so much he asked for a second glass! It was an excellent choice as the restaurant has an excellent wine list selection, very comprehensive and inviting, and includes Spanish, French, Chile, South African and German selections, among others. And by the time we had finished our main courses, we knew, we just knew, that the desserts were going to be fantastic, and they were. The Creme Brulee (served with shortbread and raspberries) was just divine, and the seasonal berry fruit salad was ah so refreshing and topped with fruit sorbet, with the dish a very beautiful berry color…..ah so good, and nice to eat on that very warm night.

    The seasonal menu and extensive bar selection is provided by award winning caterer and restaurant operator rhubarb, and they do a very good job of it. Their private dining room – The Mess Room – is available for private hire or seated dinners of up to 80 guests. This room is discreetly set back from the restaurant and offers an elegant, bespoke dining opportunity.

    Gallery Mess has an international staff who will take care of your every need, they are very attentive and very well dressed – it’s service (and food) like this that is welcome. It was a theatrical experience of a gourmet three-course meal fit for an artistic delight. Very very reasonable prices in a very very nice setting.

    http://www.saatchigallery.com/gallerymess

    To book call: +44 (0) 207 730 8135

    Saatchi Gallery
    Duke of York HQ

    Opening hours:
    10:00am-11:30pm, Monday to Saturday
    10:00am-7:00pm, Sunday

  • Humberside Fire and Rescue Service unveils colourful new engine in support of LGBT equality

    And that’s how to make a splash…

    Shoppers in Hull were surprised to see the latest addition to Humberside Fire and Rescue Service’s (HFRS) fleet roll into Queen Victoria Square emblazoned in rainbow colours.

    The new fire engine, which will be based at the city’s Calvert Lane is the result of the fire service working closely with LGBT advocates in Hull and is a celebration of Hull being chosen as the first ever host of UK Pride.

    The engine features the slogan, ‘Fire doesn’t discriminate, neither do we’, the engine will be part of the service’s fleet until the end of the year.

    Andy Train, co-chair of the UK Pride Organisers’ Network and Trustee of Pride in Hull, said,

    “We have had a close working relationship with the fire service for many years, but this year we wanted to raise the bar and do something extra special.

    “We hope that the eye-catching engine will get people talking. We know that many people have certain stereotypes in their mind when they think of LGBT people and people also have preconceived ideas about the fire service. We hope that this helps to break down both of those barriers.”

    Hull UK City of Culture 2017 is also coordinating a huge programme of events across the arts to mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK, under the banner of LGBT 50.

    Chief Fire Officer Dene Sanders was delighted to launch the latest addition to the Service’s fleet, he said,

    “We are really proud as a Service to work with the Pride in Hull team to add this engine to our already colourful fleet. We have moved on significantly as a service in equality and diversity, but there is still a long way to go within organisations such as ours and the wider community we serve. The very fact that we have an engine wrapped like this as we approach the LGBT 50 celebrations shows how much progress has been made. We look forward to a colourful summer showcasing the engine at events in Hull and beyond.”

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Wyndham’s Theatre, London

    ★★★★★| Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

    THEATRE REVIEW | Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Wyndham's Theatre, London
    Billie Holiday is alive and well and performing at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre.

    Well, it’s not quite Billie Holiday – it’s mega Broadway star Audra McDonald making her West End Debut in a show where she performs as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. And while most of us have never actually seen the real Holiday sing live, I can only imagine McDonald is as close as the real thing.

    Billie Holiday, who was known as ‘Lady Day’, had one of the greatest jazz voices of all time. But sadly she died at the age of 44 in 1959 after a turbulent life, which included drug and alcohol addiction. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill takes place in South Philadelphia right before her death, and where she sings and also tells stories about her life, loves, and family. She recounts the time she was performing with musician Artie Shaw in an all-white club and was refused the use of the all-white woman’s bathroom so she pissed on the floor. Lady Day mentions that her mother called The Duchess married at the age of 16 and her father was 19, while she was three. And she rasps lyrical about the love of her life, Sunny, who didn’t exactly treat her like a lady. And she briefly mentions the year she spent in prison for drug possession. All this, plus signature Holliday songs such as “Strange Fruit”, “Easy Livin’” and many many others are beautifully done at The Wyndham’s Theatre which has been crafted to emulate the original Emerson’s Tavern as it was known. And McDonald is astonishing as Holliday.

    It’s not just that McDonald is acting like Holiday, but McDonald sings like Holiday as well. There’s a reason why McDonald has won 6 Tony Awards, she is one if not the most accomplished stage actress of our time. The likes of Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone or Elaine Paige don’t hold a candle to McDonald.

    She’s appeared on stage in both musicals and dramas such as Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun and Master Class when she was young where she proved that she’s a force to be reckoned with. Accompanied by Shelton Becton on piano, Frankie Tontoh on Drums and Neville Malcolm on Bass, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is a lush tribute to the woman who died way before her time, and a tribute to the woman who plays her – it’s a tour de force performance.

    Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill is playing at Wyndham’s Theatre until September 9, 2017. 

     

  • What was Donald Trump’s first ever tweet?

    You can’t turn on the news anymore without a Tweet from President Donald Trump making the headlines… but where did it all begin?

    President Donald Trump has sent over 35,200 tweets – many of them late at night or very early in the morning, which many commentators have said is a clever marketing tactic in order for him to have the run of the news cycle for the next 24 hours. It was a tactic which he used to great effect during his presidential campaign. It left his competition reacting to the comment or accusations, rather than having the opportunity to be proactive.

    So what was Donald Trump’s first-ever Tweet – well it was sent in May 2009 – and it was self-promoting. He (or someone tweeting on his behalf) was simply letting his followers know that he was on Late Night with David Letterman.

    It has had 436 Retweets and 402 likes – a far cry from the tens of thousand a tweet might achieve if sent today.

    Speaking about the power of social media and more specifically, his presence on social media Trump said,

    “I really believe that, um– the fact that I have such power in terms of numbers with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, et cetera, I think it helped me win all of these races where they’re spending much more money than I spent,

    “You know, I spent my money. A lot of my money. And I won. I think that social media has more power than the money they spent, and I think maybe to a certain extent, I proved that.”

     

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