Personally, this excites me… as I am a vegetarian.
Yep, there are now vegan condoms. So now, if you’re of a veggie persuasion you’ll be protected should you wish you slap some vegan goodness on your meat (sorry) and confine your man mayo (sorry) to the tip of a rubber johnny.
The condoms have been created by Swiss entrepreneur and chemical engineer Gabrielle Lods who said,
“In 2017, everyone should know the components and how everything they consume is produced.
Awareness is rising for certain product categories such as food or cosmetics. For others, it takes longer, but eventually it will also happen.”
So what do we know about these condoms – well they are gluten free, have no casein, are paraben free and well, vegan. Apparently, they have no taste or smell and are CE certified.
So the next time you’re looking for a condom for your salami (sorry) then try the Green Condom Club
Originally I thought this was an ingenious idea. I was going to push each column back a day until we reached Thursday, 8 June – election day. So this one was meant to be sent to my editor on Monday night, for publication on Tuesday.
I can’t put into words how utterly devastated I am – how utterly devastated all of us at THEGAYUK are – about what happened at Manchester Evening News Arena on Monday night. 22 beautiful, young lights were snuffed out far too early by a hateful “loser,” as US President Donald Trump rightly called him. Twenty-two young girls and boys, women and men, lost their lives because some twisted soul bought into an ideology of hate.
Speaking only for myself, I have wept uncontrollably for those we lost in Manchester – those beautiful, precious children and their equally precious parents who just wanted to see a pop idol sing. I pray to God that anyone and everyone responsible is brought not only to justice, but to His wrath. I hope they burn in Hell.
In the wake of the horrific attack in Manchester, the parties have halted campaigning until at least the weekend. Some have criticised this decision, but I think it wholly right. At the end of the day, we’re all British (except me; I’m American – but I desperately wish I were British). This is a national tragedy, the likes of which we haven’t seen in twelve years, since the 7/7 attacks in 2005. Politics suddenly seems much less important when our children are being killed by terrorist thugs as end leave what was meant to be one of the happiest nights of their lives.
As the contributing political editor for THEGAYUK, I had a decision to make: do I write in defiance of the terrorists, or do I follow suit with our political parties and cease political coverage for the next few days? I’ve grappled with this question all day, and I don’t know that I have the right answer. But I arrived at my answer.
I’m not going to write about politics today.
Instead, I’m going to talk about the victims who have been publicly identified, talk about their lives, and talk about what it is I think makes Britain so goddamn special.
I hope you’ll understand.
Saffie-Rose Roussos was 8. She became separated from her sister and mum – who at the time I’m writing this is still in hospital and unaware her daughter has died – and was killed in the terrorist attack. According to the Telegraph, her headteacher, Chris Upton said “Saffie was simply a beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word. She was loved by everyone.” She was “unassuming, with a creative flair,” he said, and “she was loved by everyone and her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly.”
Georgina Callander was 18. Her mother, Leslie, was the first to lay a flower at Tuesday’s vigil in Manchester’s Albert Square. A self-proclaimed “Arianator” (the nickname for those in the Ariana Grande fandom), Georgina was seeing her idol for at least the second time. She was also an avid fan of Once Upon a Time, a television show about fairy tale characters. Several of the cast members, including Rebecca Mader (who played the Wicked Witch of the West) and Emelie de Ravin (who played Belle) tweeted condolences, remembering Georgina. (As a fellow Oncer, Georgina holds a special place in my heart, and I tweeted at series creator Adam Horowitz asking that, as another fan requested, the first episode of series 7 be dedicated in her honour.)
Kelly Brewster was 32. She had just put the deposit on a house with her partner, intent on building a life with him and his daughter. According to the Daily Mail, she shielded her young niece, Hollie, from the shrapnel coming from the nail bomb. Hollie survived thanks to her aunt’s courage, as did Kelly’s sister – Hollie’s mum. The Daily Mail spoke to the father of Kelly’s partner, Ian, who said he is ‘absolutely distraught.’
Alison Howe and Leslie Lees were waiting for their daughters to come out of the concert when they were killed. Both were from Royton, Oldham according to the Mirror. “They took a caring beautiful mum and step mother away from us all she was amazing to us x love you loads Alison Howe xx,” her stepson Jordan Howe posted on Facebook – again, according to the Mirror, who also reports that around the same time Leslie’s brother said she was “gone, but never ever forgotten.” These two mums were trying to collect their daughters from a pop concert. That’s it.
These are the victims, as of 3:33 GMT on 24 May, I know of. More will surely be made known by the time this is published. (ed note: RIP to Martyn Hett)
Their stories are equally worth telling. All 22 (and, God forbid, counting) souls’ stories are worth telling. It would be my honour to write them all.
I may never get that chance, but what I have now is a chance to use my platform as a contributing editor of this magazine and a writer for other British outlets to say this: they will not have died in vain. Their stories will be told, and their loss will redouble our efforts to confront the scourge of extremism within our own borders and abroad – that evil ideology, irrespective of religion, that seeks to divide us. The terrorists won a battle; they will not win the war.
Britain is at its best when it is united. It is what I love most about this country – a country that, no matter who you are or where you’re from can come together over a cup of tea. If that sounds quaint, it is, but it’s also honest – as the assassinated Labour MP Jo Cox said, we have more that unites us than divides us.
Britain is a beautiful, resilient country that will not be cowed by terrorists. No matter our sexuality, our race, our religion – no matter anything – we will always come together. The Mancunians showed us that last night, offering their houses to strangers and their taxi rides free of charge. They took the stranger in. Why? Because they’re British, and their neighbours were in need. That’s what we do in this country.
And though I’m American, I know a thing or two about the British spirit. I know how unbreakable it is. Times are scary, and times are tough. We’ve suffered devastating losses. But as long as we stand together, united, we cannot be defeated.
I’ll get back to politics later this week. I have an interview with Labour MP Peter Kyle that’s not to be missed and my usual witty observations. In the meantime, I ask that you pray for Manchester – or, if you’re of no faith, keep them in your thoughts. After all…
Fans who are due to attend a concert at London’s o2 have pleaded with the venue to cancel the show.
Fans have called upon o2 to cancel a forthcoming Ariana Grande show following the horrific bombing of Manchester Arena, where she was performing on Monday evening. A suicide bomber entered the Manchester Arena at the end of her concert and detonated his explosives in one of the foyers of the venue. The explosion killed 22 and injured a further 59 people.
The 02 have issued a statement saying that they are “in contact with the tour promoters” regarding a final decision on whether Ariana’s tour, Dangerous Woman, will continue with its two London dates at the 02.
She is due to perform at the world-famous London venue on the 25th and 26th of May.
In response to their statement, fans have urged the venue to cancel the show, saying that “no way will Ari be able to perform” whilst another added, “She needs f**king time, people are so selfish honestly. It’s important for her to rest and try to calm down after all this happened.”
Some fans were concerned that Ariana would feel obliged to perform for her fans but were quick to point out that they would rather the 23-year-old singer take “time off to heal” and they “wouldn’t expect anyone to perform after that shock”.
A man who starred and won an episode of Come Dine With Me with his boyfriend has been confirmed as one of the fatalities of the Manchester Bombing on Monday evening.
Martyn Hett has been confirmed, by his brother as being one of the victims of the Manchester bombing, which left 22 dead and 59 injured at the end of an Ariana Grande concert. Family and friends were desperately seeking for more information about Martyn’s whereabouts after he failed to check in with them after the concert.
His brother, Dan Hett, left a simple message on Twitter saying, “they found my brother last night. we are heartbroken”.
Check out these first look pictures of Tom Holland as Spider-Man
A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging superhero in Spider-Man: Homecoming.Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.
Taiwan is the latest state to rule in favour of same-sex marriage.
A Taiwan court has issued a landmark ruling that gay marriage will become available to gay couples, making the island the first Asian place to allow same-sex marriages.
The court ruled that the country’s civil code “violated” the Taiwanese constitution which guarantees freedom of marriage and equality.
The notion of legalising same-sex marriage in Taiwan was first proposed in 2003, however, the bill received mass opposition and was not voted on.
This is a breaking story – please refresh to read more as the story develops.
Authorities have arrested 144 men in Jakarta, Indonesia‘s capital city on Monday, THEGAYUK has learnt.
The men were allegedly attending a party at a sauna when the police raided the venue and captured 144 men, under broad pornography laws. The broadly written laws have been used to unfairly target the gay community in the past.
Despite homosexuality not being illegal in the majority of the country, the men were lined up at in front of a sign with the slogan “press conference” emblazoned on it. Police also paraded various costumes also found at the party, in front of the press.
The police have been criticised for releasing pictures of the raid, some of which exposed the identities of the men to their families, friends and employers. Homosexuality is frowned upon in Indonesia and there could be social repercussions being associated with this arrest.
The reports are on the back of the horrific news that two men, in Aceh province, whose private room was broken into by vigilantes, were lashed 83 times for same-sex activity. They were sentenced to 85 lashes but the punishment was reduced as the pair had already spent time in prison.
There’s a chemsex party taking place at the King’s Head Theatre. No, it’s not an actual party – It’s the returning show 5 Guys Chillin’.
In the comforts of the living room of J (David Palmstrom) and M (George Fletcher), them and three other guys (actually men) are enjoying each other as well as the drugs on the table in order to experience the highs, and in some cases, the lows, of what gay men (not all gay men) are getting into nowadays; drugs and sex and more drugs and in some cases unsafe sex in private house parties.
B (Gareth Watkins) and R (Tom Ratcliffe) are a bit of an unmatched couple; R is very young but not so innocent, while muscular big daddy B is experienced and likes it any which way and loose. And the last one to arrive at the party is Pakistani PJ (George Bull). He’s a bit unsure as to why he’s there, but slowly gets into the action. But he’s got a story to tell the other guys; he’s actually married with a young child because it’s what is expected in his culture. Besides him, all the guys have stories to tell; B’s story is particularly vivid as he recounts the time he was spit roasted in Berlin where sexual diseases were not discussed. It’s all a lot to take in; the play’s honesty and brutal nature is scary because know all know these types of gay men, and parties, do actually exist.
And all the actors should be admired for performing such an in your face play shedding emotions as well as bravely shedding their clothes. Writer and Director Peter Darney seems to have gotten the tone and characters right, but luckily I wouldn’t know because I’ve never been and don’t plan to go to one of these parties.
A vigil will take place this evening in Albert Square from 6 PM to pay tribute to the twenty-two killed at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. Manchester’s newly elected mayor, Andy Burnham confirmed the vigil when he spoke to the press earlier outside Manchester’s town hall.
Manchester Police confirmed that a bomb exploded at Manchester Arena. Twenty-two people were killed after a blast ripped through Manchester Arena foyer the end of the concert. Up to 21,000 fans were in attendance of the concert.
At around 10:3o/33 PM as Ariana Grande had finished her concert, thousands of people were streaming out of the concert venue when the bomb was detonated. Police confirm the bomber was killed by his own explosion.
Witnesses say that the bomb went off outside the auditorium.
ISIS have claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that has rocked Manchester concert venue.
According to reports, ISIS have claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing which ripped through Manchester Arena’s foyer, killing 22 people and injured 59 others. The male which some media outlets have dubbed a “lone wolf” bomber was confirmed, by police, to have died on site.
The terrorist group released statements through their media outlet which praised the atrocity. It claimed that more than 100 “crusaders” were wounded or killed at the concert which it said was “shameless”.
The English version said,
“With Allah’s grace and support, a soldier of the Khilafah [caliphate] managed to place explosive devices in the midst of the gatherings of the crusaders in the British city of Manchester”.
Speaking at a press conference, the Chief Constable of Manchester’s police force, Ian Hopkins called the bombing the “most horrific” incident that Manchester has faced.
He said,
“Families and many young people were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have lost their lives. Our thoughts are with those 22 victims that we now know have died, the 59 people who have been injured and their loved ones.
Emergency numbers have been established for anyone who is concerned for loved ones who may not have returned home 0161 856 9400 or 0161 856 9900.
Katie Hopkins sent a series of tweets after a number of terror-related incidents that have happened since the fatal attack on Manchester Arena. She questioned whether it was “Ramadan” yet and called upon “Western men” to “stand up, demand action” and not to carry on as normal.
She went on to say that she accepted the criticism levelled against her and called her critics “eunuchs”. She tweeted,
“This is your response to slaughter 1) attack hopkins 2) say you stand united 3) celebrate diversity”
