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  • HIS STYLE: Jermain Jackman Is All About Dark Rum, Nandos and Vivienne Westwood

    Jermain Jackman was crowned The Voice 2014. We find out about his style and the inspiration for his life. His debut album is out now on London / Universal.

    HIS WATCH // Guess

    HIS AFTERSHAVE // Armani Code / Invictus

    HIS RESTAURANT // Nando’s

    HIS DRINK // Dark Rum e.g.Captain Morgan

    HIS TRAVEL DESTINATION // Guyana

    HIS BOOK // Ray Charles Man And Music

    HIS TOP THREE PLAYLIST // “Never Too Much” – Luther Vandross, “Outstanding” – Gap Band, “I Don’t Want Her” – Eric Bellinger

    HE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT // Music(Singing), Food, Sleep

    HIS UPTOWN // Suits from French Eye, Stephen Williams, Vivienne Westwood

    HIS DOWNTOWN // Zara, Topman, Next

    HIS TOWN // Adidas tracksuits

    HIS QUOTE // If you have the opportunity to do something a day before then do it then!

    HIS FINAL THOUGHT Someone once told me… // When i was 18 that I don’t have long if i wanted to start a career as singer

    Jermain Jackman’s album is out now, BUY FROM AMAZON

  • 6 Manly But Sweet And Spicy Fragrances You Need In Your Life

    A turn of a season hails the call for new fragrances. We want fresh, spicy and sweet, because we’re like that.

    For a totally fresh vibe try 1) Spiced Lime by St. Kitts Herbery | 50ml | £7.95.

    Rihanna’s offering, 2) MAN, to the male market is a sexy, smouldering evening fragrance | 100ml | £45.

    The fresh and zingy limited edition 3) 212 from Caroline Herrera | 100ml | £21.99 from Fragrance Direct.

    4) Twisted Soul Blue makes an interesting edition to any man’s aftershave haul | 100ml | £9.99 from Blue Inc.

    5) Homme by Laurelle Parfums makes an impression at a reasonable price. 100ml £4.99 from Fragrance Direct.

    The classic, sweet 6) Polo Sport makes a splash back 75ml £25.95 from Fragrance Direct.

  • Chat With AI: What Do You Think About Gay Icons?

    We were dying to know what AI thought of gay icons. Something makes us think the programmers never envisaged a chat about Judy Garland, Cilla Black and Joan Collins.

    And here’s what happened over at cleverbot.com.

    TGUK: Do you know what a gay icon is?
    CB: Yes, I know what a gun is.
    TGUK: A gun, what has that to do with gay icons?

    CB: I am sometimes lacking self esteem.
    TGUK: Do you think you’re a gay icon?

    CB: Of course not. Did you get that from the word blue?
    TGUK: No… what about Judy Garland, is she a gay icon?

    CB: Is he the one who’s in charge of Apple?
    TGUK: I believe he was actually a she…

    CB: What was 9?
    TGUK: … Okay what about Joan Collins or Cilla Black are they gay icons?

    CB: It’s the best band in the world.
    TGUK: We love a bit of Cilla, it has to be said.

    CB: Are you the bit of software?
    TGUK: Okay, well you must know who Alan Turing is…

    CB: How do you know of Alan Turing?
    TGUK: He was a gay icon, who changed the world.

    CB: The world is always changing.

    Deep every deep.

    This interview was taken from Issue 14.

  • INTERVIEW: James Benenson, Last Chance To Party

    FOUND was born in the dark tunnels of South London’s Vauxhall. The original Found Series saw 15 consecutive club nights offer shelter to an expanding melting pot of sounds rooted in UK garage, Chicago house and Detroit techno.

    In just three years the Found Series has developed into an ongoing run of breathtaking London festivals, street parties, warehouse events and club shows. By producing stellar events that are truly one-of-a-kind, the F: stands as a mark of quality on London’s electronic music calendar.

    At the helm of Found is its enigmatic leader James Benenson who started the company alongside his partner Will Paterson in 2011 after the success of his company Urban Nerds. I had the pleasure of chatting to James about the current crop of festivals, what the future holds and what his guilty pleasures are!

    Tell us more about Urban Nerds. How did it come about?

    The first music that really gripped me was the early grime scene. A little further down the line and dubstep was bubbling up in London and at that point the underground scene was becoming really exciting, with a whole load of particularly bass driven sounds coming to the fore, driven by British producers, DJs and MCs with something strong and something new to bring to the table. The whole thing was so exciting to me that I set up the first Urban Nerds when I was 18 as a night that could amalgamate it all, without any boundaries. I didn’t know then that what was supposed to be a one off night would lead to a career that’s seen me through for the past ten years!

    Did you always want to be part of the grime/music scene in some way?

    Definitely. When I first started attending grime raves I used to plan my weeks around nights like Dirty Canvas, Straight Outta Bethnal or Run The Road. The energy then was unbelievable. At first I managed to get myself into these parties as a freelance journalist writing about the scene but I wanted more and promotion was the next step.

    How hands on are you at Found – Booking acts etc?

    I oversee the talent booking but our programming is very much a team effort. We’re an intimate office but every single person has something to give when it comes to the music. Between us all we’ve grown-up with, danced to, listened to, promoted, DJ’d or produced everything from jungle, DnB, garage, grime and dubstep through to hard house, classic house, Detroit techno, funk, soul…the lot! We all have very distinct views and scrutinise every booking as a team, with the goal of ending up with authentic, genuinely different line-ups that as far as possible tell a story that transcends the past, present and future.

    Tell us a fact that would surprise people about you…

    I’ve got a secret passion for a Scuba Diving.

    Do you still enjoy it or does it feel like work?

    Like any job there’s highs and lows but with promotion I think the two are all the more extreme! This season for example has delivered some of the most incredible moments of my career, alongside days where you want it to all disappear! It’s that disparity that keeps you gripped though and I think any good promoter would agree that you can’t have one without the other.

    Who’s set are you most looking forward to on the 12th?

    Without a doubt, Armand Van Helden’s Classic 90s set. The first time I danced to an Armand production would have been my year 6 school disco and the last time was at his London Boiler Room appearance a few weeks back. If that was anything to go by, his main stage set at Ceremony is going to be truly something else!

    What are your guilty pleasures (Music Wise)

    I think one person’s guilty is another’s classic…I guess a lot of the original Hed Kandi house, the really cheesy, piano led uplifting stuff with an occasional saxophone appearance. Lots of classic cafe del mar and Buddha Bar chillout too.

    Any Plans to branch out abroad?

    We’ve got our hands full with London right now but never say never.

    What’s Next for Found?

    In just three years we’ve gone from one festival to five. For now, we’re going to put the brakes on and focus on improving the experience on offer across the festival series when we bring back all the shows next year.

    Ceremony Festival is at Finsbury Park on the 12th of Sep

    The last few tickets are available at www.ceremonyfestival.com

    United Festival is at Finsbury Park on the 13th of Sep

    The last few tickets are available at http://unitedfestival.co.uk

    In James’s own words ‘This is your last chance to party’

    by Chloe Misson | @CselinaM

    Chloe is a movie obsessed, born and bred Londoner who is always keen to sniff out what’s new and cool in her hometown – everything from theatreland and to 1950s swing nights, to specialist film screenings and underground galleries. And when city life gets too much? Ideas for the best mini-getaways not too far from her beloved London Town.

  • Throw Kim Davis, Gay Rights Denying Kentucky Clerk Into Jail

    Calls have been made to throw law breaking Kentucky clerk, Kim Davis, who has refused to give a gay couple a marriage license, in jail.

    Writing in an article for New Republic, Brian Beutler called for the jailing of Kim Davis, the woman who has twice denied a gay couple a marriage license, despite a High Court ruling that she must.

    He warned against any other punishment such as fines as any “attempt to force her hand risks making her a bigger martyr than she already is on the religious right”, and would see her likely “reap a windfall” from a crowdsourcing site campaign, much like the Sweet Cake bakers and Memories Pizza owners. Memories Pizza eventually collected over $800,000 in donations.

    Due to her religious beliefs Kim Davis, 49, who is on her fourth marriage, is refusing to hand out a marriage license to a gay couple, even though there is a federal court order for her to do so.

    She appealed the order to the Supreme Court of the United States requesting that her religious freedoms should exclude her from doing that part of her job. However, the court refused her request.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | F*cking Men

    I was all set in my mind to hate this; I imagined it being hammy, awkward and amateur. It was, after all, a play about gay sex lives to be performed in the back of a pub. I had images in my mind of either uncomfortable soft-core porn or over-pretentious dramatics involving a man in clown makeup reading poetry and eating an apple.

    The play follows the intertwining lives of 10 gay men, tackling the usual gay issues of fidelity, trust and sex. Yes, of course, there’s a character who’s an escort in there. It wouldn’t be gay theatre if there wasn’t.

    The setting was simple, if amateurish, reminding me of the various performances we put on during A-level drama exam week. Although if the boys in my school looked ANYTHING like the cast I would never have left.

    Which brings us on to the most important part, the cast. They were fantastic. Those who weren’t stunningly gorgeous were hilarious and heartfelt. In fact many were gorgeous and heartfelt, a combination you don’t actually see in real life… so maybe a bit of realism lost there. Some of the acting was a little laboured; feeling over the top and out of place for such a small and intimate setting. When there were fight scenes you heard the fake slap, and when there were screaming matches you got wet. And not in a good way.

    The initial intimacy of the play can be a bit overwhelming, but the rhythm of the scene changes is consistently good and you’re easily moved from one character’s story to another. Some of the best characters aren’t introduced until towards the end, by that I mean both the funniest character and then arguably the hottest character. Despite its low budget, the show is still appealing to a wide audience, nothing too gay niche to prevent the characters from being relatable.

    I am forced to wonder, however, if the play would have been as engrossing if the cast weren’t as beautiful as they were. The good thing is you don’t need to find out.

    Entertaining and full of eye-candy. Go and see F*cking Men at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington before the end of it’s run in September (extended for another month due to popular demand).

    Worth it even if you’re just looking for new entries in your spank bank.

  • The Top 10 Healthy Foods And Drinks You Need In Your Fridge

    The market has gone mad for health orientated consumer products, but it’s so often that on closer inspection the product is not designed with our optimum health in mind. The other day I was inspecting a snack bar which had the word “Nature” in it. It’s second highest ingredient was sugar (and not from natural sugars). Akin to snacks, the drinks industry can be just as misleading.

    Below are a collection of food and drink products that keep it simple, with carefully selected ingredients, and the majority focusing on helping us to achieve our 5 to 7-a-day. You are sure to see some familiar products here, but also some unique and interesting finds that are going to be big in 2015 and beyond. Let’s start with some drinks…

    B.Fresh JuicesDirect and cold pressed from Shropshire, probably the closest product you will get to home juicing. In 8 different varieties, B.Fresh have a great vegetable to fruit ratio (we should try to have whole fruits, and juiced vegetables, remember), and have some really refreshing combinations. One of my favourites being their #leanandgreen – cucumber, kale, ginger, lemon, celery, romaine lettuce and spinach. Each juice is one of your 5 a day and the packaging is simple, clear, and highlights each juices greatest qualities (i.e. high in vitamin K etc.).

    £15.00 for 6 bottles, and also available as a recurring order / subscription to provide you with your weekly fix.

    Bulk Powders – Complete Fruits

    Vegan friendly and GM free, Complete Fruits serves as a supplement for those (like me) that need more fruit in their diet. A unique fruit blend of 10 premium quality freeze-dried fruit powders, with one serving equating to 2 of your 5 a day. Bulk Powders also offer Complete Greens with one serving that equates to more than 5 of your 5-a-day! These products should be used in line with a healthy diet, not as a substitute. £31.99 for 100 servings (100 days if taken daily).

    Coco Mojo

    I would probably be considered crazy not to include some form of coconut water within my top picks of healthy drinks. Coco Mojo is my favourite of all brands out there. Deemed more beneficial than sports drinks filled with electrolytes, coconuts are everywhere right now. I like Coco Mojo’s “Soul” and “Passion” varieties as they are blended with other fruits and best of all, botanical herbs. Check their website for stockists in your area. RRP £.1.79-£1.99p each.

    Leader Natural Foods – Detox Smoothie

    Vegan friendly smoothie sachets also available in a Balance and an Energy variety. Full of vitamins and vegan-friendly proteins (pea, hemp etc). I concoct my own supplement shakes at home every day, which isn’t viable if I am travelling so usually have a few of these stashed in my bag for a convenient pick me up. They taste pretty lovely too- the Detox smoothie comprising mainly of pineapple, banana, and apple powders. Power foods such as spirulina, nettle leaf, and barley grass also feature in this “superfood” smoothie. Add to coconut water for an extra boost.

    £1.99p each. Available at Superdrug.

    Arctic Power Berries

    Enjoy added to smoothies or home made juices, or alternatively sprinkled atop salads, breakfast or healthy desserts. Available in Blueberry, Cranberry, or Sea Buckthorn. Just a teaspoon of these equates to the goodness of a handful of fresh berries. Dried and powdered with nothing added. Peels and seeds included. Created by two Finnish ladies with backgrounds in nutrition, I have a feeling Arctic Power Berries will be a hit this year. I add the Blueberry to my shake at home.

    £7.50 (50g). Available direct. Check their website for other stockists.

    Whitworths

    Perfect pick me ups with clear information on the packaging- highlighting if they are one of your five a day on the front with their 30g Snack Packs (dried; apple, apricots, raisins, dates, kiwi, mango and many more). How many calories each pack contains are also boldy boasted on each pack. Their range of “Shots” are also scrummy! With a huge pack of dates in front of me I find it hard to self limit with portion, but with these Snack Packs you know exactly how much you’ve had.

    £0.45p Snack Packs (30g). Available from most supermarkets and online

    The Primal Pantry

    Founded and created by a nutritionist in her own kitchen. Primal Pantry cleverly offer the first convenience snack of it’s kind, aimed at people on the popular Paleo diet. Using organic ingredients where they can, and only 4-5 ingredients used per bar, and then cold pressed. Simplicity at it’s very best. Great packaging too. Varieties include; Almond & Cashew, Brazil Nut & Cherry, Coconut & Macadamia (my favourite), and Hazelnut & Cocoa.
    £1.49p per bar- Available from Superdrug & others.Boxes of 18 available direct.

    Bounce Energy Balls

    Founded by a personal fitness trainer and a life coach, aiming to inspire positive change in the way people eat. I like these purely because I find them rather odd. They make a change from the traditional bar shaped product. I particularly like the Spirulina & Ginseng ball as it’s an interesting and tasty ingredient combo. All gluten free and often packed with protein power.

    RRP £1.79p per ball. Stocked in most supermarkets and Holland & Barrett and online

    Trek & Nakd Bars

    Natural Balance Foods offer many varieties of their delicious Trek & Nakd bars. I’m pretty certain all of you reading this would have heard of either of these bars and will agree they are all delicious. Again, another product providing us with 1 of our 5 a day. Doesn’t mean you can eat five a day though! Tempting as it may be. I’ve switched to Trek recently for their higher protein content. Are there any other protein bars out there that also equate to one of your 5 a day? Nope.

    Check their website directly for special offers and big boxes. http://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/

    £0.75p-£0.90p per bar. Available at supermarkets.

    USN Diet Whey BarsWarning. These are dangerously good. More suited to those looking for a sport snack, so if you have recently taken up an exercise regime in the new year, give these a go for a protein packed guilt free snack, with only 5g of sugar per bar. The peanut butter brownie flavour is a proper sweet tooth fix. £35.99p (Box of 18).

  • London Sex Health Clinic Accidentally Publishes Email Addresses Of Patients

    Around 780 HIV patients from the sexual health clinic, 56 Dean Street, have had their personal details disclosed in an email sent in an “administrative error”

    The personal email addresses of around 780 patients at London’s busiest sexual health clinic have been leaked via an email. A newsletter was sent to HIV patients of the clinic which disclosed names and emails addresses to everyone on the list.

    The clinic immediately apologised for the mistake and have started an investigation into how the breach happened. A helpline has been set up by the clinic for patients who are worried about the exposure.

    Dr Alan McOwan, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS trust’s director for sexual health said in his apology,

    “I’m writing to apologise to you. This morning at around 11.30am we sent you the latest edition of OptionE newsletter.

    This is normally sent to individuals on an individual basis but unfortunately we sent out today’s email to a group of email addresses. We apologise for this error.

    “We recalled/deleted the email as soon as we realised what had happened. If it is still in your inbox please delete it immediately.

    Clearly this is completely unacceptable. We are urgently investigating how this has happened and I promise you that we will take steps to ensure it never happens again. We will send you the outcome of the investigation.”

    Concerns have been raised about how the leaked email addresses could be used, including typing the addresses into Facebook to find out a full profile, including pictures and other personal details.

    A spokesperson speaking to THEGAYUK for the clinic said the breach was an “administrative error”,

    “We can confirm that due to an administrative error, a newsletter about services at 56 Dean Street was sent to an email group rather than individual recipients.

    We have immediately contacted all the email recipients to inform them of the error and apologise. Any concerned patients can call 020 3315 9555 and 020 3315 9594.”

  • This Women In The US Thinks She Is Above The Law

    It didn’t take long, but one woman has decided that America’s marriage equality laws don’t apply to her.

    The US made a huge step forward this year in equality for same-sex couples when it legalised gay marriage, however, one clerk in Kentucky, who is apparently on her fourth marriage, has decided that the law doesn’t apply to her.

    Due to her religious beliefs Kim Davis, 49, is refusing to hand out a marriage license to a gay couple, even though there is a federal court order for her to do so.

    She appealed the order to the Supreme Court of the United States requesting that her religious freedoms should exclude her from doing that part of her job. However the court refused her request.

    Ms. Davis was caught on camera refusing to give David Moore and his partner a marriage license.

     

  • ADVICE | He Has HIV, Should I Call It Off?

    This week, sexual health expert Jose Perez de la Cruz, answers a reader’s question about a potential new boyfriend, who is HIV positive and is worried about having a sexual relationship with him.

    Hey there,

    I’ve met a really cute guy recently at a bar and we made out and he’s incredibly sexy and we had a great connection.

    We didn’t have sex, but the next day he texted me to say he was HIV+.

    Now I’m really nervous, I want to see him again, but I’m worried I might catch HIV if we have sex. Also long term, I like having sex unprotected, (only in a long-term) but that’s not going to be possible ever is it?

    Should I call it off?

     

    Hello,

    There is certainly no need to call off what could potentially be a very satisfying relationship, solely based on the fact that he is HIV positive.

    The risk of contracting HIV from someone during unprotected sex is determined by a number of factors. If an HIV positive individual is on medication, and his viral load is undetectable then there is very little chance of catching HIV from them, though, we cannot say it is impossible. An undetectable viral load means that the quantity of active HIV in a person’s bloodstream is so low that it is in fact almost zero. Conversely, the higher the viral load the more likely and indeed the easier it is to catch HIV.

    Therefore, I think the best thing to do prior to engaging in any sexual intercourse of any kind is to establish whether he is undetectable or not.

    Even if he isn’t there is always the option of using condoms. I understand that many people don’t like them, but if you choose to have unprotected sex with anyone, at least use a good water based lubricant.

    To a degree lube also reduces the risk of catching HIV as it reduces the internal trauma which commonly occurs during sex.

    Hope this helps.

    Jose Perez de la Cruz, BPubHtlth,

    Public Health Practitioner

    Did you know you can order an at-home HIV test online? Click here to buy one

    The advice given in this article is for guidance only and you should always seek your own independent, professional medical advice from your own GP if you are concerned about your health.  

    OTHER QUESTIONS: HIV | WILLY WONDERS | HOLES | DOING IT | STIs | LUMPS & BUMPS | BACK TO SEX CLINIC HOME PAGE

     

    Got a problem you’d like advice on?

  • BOOK REVIEW | Expose

    Exposé is a triumph for first-time novelist Paul Ilett.

    Welcome to the world of news media, particularly the murky world of the tabloid: celebrity reporting, the relentless stalking of VIPS, undermining of governments and exposing political hypocrisy are all just a part of a another hum-drum day at the office activity.

    This is a world where the saucy details of personalities, peers and people of note are exposed for the world’s entertainment. Sometimes you don’t even have to be famous to get your unwelcome share of the limelight.

    Paul Ilett’s brand new book Exposé whips and slams newsprint media with a savvy, electric and clever exposé of the shady world of selling tomorrow’s fish and chip paper. With the Leveson enquiry still biting the industry, and the crash of the News Of The World still fresh in our memories, Exposé is a well timed reminder that all eyes are on the tabloids that trade in smut, in order to shift copies. We’ve been promised reform and self-regulation, but is that what we’re getting or is it just business as usual?

    The Daily Ear, thinly veiled for what reads like a real life title, is under attack when openly gay, hugely popular actor Adam Jaymes (think a British Jonathan Groff mixed with Matt Bomer), wages war against the infamous tabloid. He’s got a personal vendetta against the columnists, editors and owners of the rag – and he’s treating them to their own medicine, with a number of well-orchestrated, scandalous exposés of various members of the Daily Ear’s editorial team and the Harvey News Empire, the owners of the paper.

    Brilliantly observed (the author is a former journalist), and devilishly demanding, Ilett’s debut is a f**king riot, can’t-pit-it-downer, that the huge media empires should be worried about.

     

    BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON

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