THEGAYUK

Search results for: “ ”

  • New Report Released on Gay Hate Crime Challenges

    A new report has been released by Nottingham Trent University that has for the first time examined the perspectives of police officers and the issues they face preventing hate crime.

    Carried out by Nottingham Law School on behalf of the Hate Crime Steering Group, it involved in-depth interviews conducted with frontline officers from Nottinghamshire Police. The outcomes of this are to be shared among UK forces by the government.

    The reports author, Dr Loretta Trickett, has claimed: “many of the officers I interviewed were not fully engaged with the current format” and that while officers are clear on what hate crime is and know the procedures to follow, more training from external agencies on how to sufficiently deal with complicated cases is vital.

    Hate crime is currently an area of priority for the police, including five monitored areas, two of these being sexual orientation and gender identity. The crime itself makes up 1% of overall crime, with 44,480 incidents being recorded by police in 2013/14.

     

  • CHER: I never really liked doing Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

    The ever iconic pop goddess, Cher, has made a statement that will likely shock a lot of her fan base.

    Living legend Cher, made the confession that she “never actually loved” recording some of her most iconic songs of the 1970’s such as “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves” and “Dark Lady’, both of which obtained high chart positions.

    While being interviewed by Billboard to commemorate fifty years in the music industry, the artist claimed:

    “I was doing these kind of poppy songs. I was not content, necessarily, to do them… Like, I never liked Dark Lady, and it was a big hit”.

     

    She went onto say that the reason she put songs such as these out in the seventies was due to a lack of creative control, something she was not able to obtain until later in her career.

    During the interview, she also spoke about how the most fun she ever had making a song was Believe, the dance track that became a global no.1 in 1999 and shot her back into the public eye after a row of flop singles in the 1990s.

    Since the release of the track, she has since gone on to have success with the film Burlesque and her most recent album, Closer To The Truth.

    Whilst she is still very much heralded as a queen of pop, the singer did have to cancel the last leg of her Dressed to Kill tour in 2013 due to a viral infection.

    She has confirmed that she intends to hit the road again soon but admits that she can’t say that she’ll actually be able to, claiming her “will is pretty strong”.

     

    Find Cher’s full interview with Billboard here

  • REVIEW | A Naughty Night With Noël Coward at the Old Red Lion Theatre Islington

    Absurdly polite confrontations, beastly upper-class pompousness, all served up with preposterous hilarity.

    Director Jimmy Walters, co-founder of Proud Haddock, has brought to life two works of one of the most famous actor-director-producer-playwrights, Noël Coward. You’ll feel as though you’ve been pulled back to the 1920s for 70mins with two authentic performances of Noël’s short one act plays.

    In the first – We Were Dancing – Louise (Lianne Harvey), a married woman, supposedly falls pinned-curls-over-oxford-heels in love – without so much as a first name exchange – with Karl (James Sindall), a chap she’s just met on the dance floor of a South Pacific country club. Replace the waltz with bare-chested shape-throwing and that’s just another normal night at XXL.

    Once the euphoric bubble bursts and carnal frenzy fades, what’s left? In today’s world, would they even swap digits?

    Brilliantly awkward with a good old-fashioned, British stiff-upper-lip marriage break-up, all executed with high society etiquette.

    In the second – The Better Half – Alice (Tracey Pickup) is bored, and has fallen out of love with her drippy husband David (Stephen Fawkes). Blunt Alice attempts to rile David with confessions of adultery, and tries to push him into the arms of her friend Marion (Beth Eyre) – car-key swapping partiers weren’t around back then. Drippy David accepts the affairs – in his mind, that’s the honourable thing to do – which leads to Alice’s hysterical hysteria.

    In the speakeasy golden 20s it wasn’t so easy to speak of infidelity. Nowadays it’s a lot simpler, a few words on WhatsApp or a quick Snapchat, and out the door one totters.

    Pickup really picks up Alice’s nuances and breathes life into the character – the crowd sympathised with Alice, no contest.

    By the end of the night the 20s weren’t the only thing roaring in the Old Red Lion’s intimate theatre – the humour is as fresh as the performance, and the audience found the both acts jolly agreeable.

    A Naughty Night with Noël Coward: We Were Dancing and The Better Half

    Old Red Lion Theatre, 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ

    www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk

    Tuesday 4th – Saturday 29th August 2015 Tuesday to Saturday, 7.30pm

    Saturday matinees, 2pm – Sunday matinees, 3pm

  • RIP: Mr Gay World 2010 Has Died, Aged 33

    LGBT campaigner and Mr Gay World 2010 has died at the age of 33.

    After a short battle against lymphatic cancer, Mr Gay South Africa 2009, Charl van den Berg has died at the age of 33. He won the Mr Gay South Africa title in 2009 and then won the Mr Gay World title in Olso in 2010.

    A statement released by the Mr Gay World organisation said,

    “It is with deep sorrow that we learned of the passing of one of the prominent members of the Mr. Gay World™ family, Charl van den Berg, Mr. Gay World™ 2010 from South Africa who lost his mercifully short battle with lymphatic cancer.

    “Charl always conducted himself in a friendly, approachable and exemplary fashion, keeping his feet firmly on the ground and doing the job he was chosen for without airs and graces. His infectious laughter and warm character made him an absolute pleasure to work with.”

    An announcement on his Facebook page said that a funeral will take place on the 14th August.

    The former title holder said upon winning the world-wide Mr Gay World competition that it was his aim to “break down stereotypes and differing mindsets in the global community and promote oneness and equality for all people by bridging the gap between those mindsets.

    “It is my understanding that people are people before we are different.”

  • INTERVIEW: FatBoy Slim… All about the fishing… and cooking

    Mr Norman Cook, otherwise known as Fatboy Slim has been producing amazing music since the eighties, breaking through with The Housemartins, and he has been innovative in both music and music videos ever since.

    In the run up to his set at Creamfields, we found out about his musical influences, who he rates at the moment in the music industry and his opinion on the famous dance music festival, which is set to be bigger and better than ever this year.

    SE: Firstly, congratulations on over 30 years in the music industry! What would you say is the secret to your success?

    FBS: Total love of what I do mixed with a bit of persistence and a drop or two of luck!

    SE: Who are your musical influences from the past, and are there any upcoming artists that you are impressed with or inspired by at the moment?

    FBS: In the past, Grandmaster Flash, the Clash, Carl Cox and The Dust Brothers. Currently, Robbie Rivera, Gregor Salto and Federico Scavo.

    SE: You have played at Creamfields several times. If you could sum it up in one word, what would it be?

    FBS: A cavort.

    SE: You’re debuting your own Smile High Club arena at Creamfields this year, what can we expect?
    FBS: A club within a festival based on good music, vibrations and a healthy shot of the absurd.
    SE: What do you think makes Creamfields so successful and longstanding?FBS: Being run by people who genuinely love the scene rather than motivated by money and sticking to their guns with no compromise.

    SE: How does it compare to your famous House of Commons gig? I’m assuming the dancing is better?!

    FBS: Creamfields is better dressed, behaved, and better looking. The dancing was not dissimilar…

    SE: Do you have any new projects coming up in the future? Any tours, albums or collaborations?

    FBS: Nope. Just a continuing series of DJ engagements…

    SE: Apart from your own music, are there any tracks around at the moment which really stand out to you?

    FBS: I am kinda obsessed with ‘loud places Loud Places by Jamie xx right now as well as an unhealthy crush on ‘peanut butter jelly’ by Galantis
    SE: You are obviously a very busy man. What do you do for fun on the rare occasions that you get time off?

    FBS: I like cooking and fishing.

    SE: Finally, did you ever find out who the guy was from the cover of “You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby”
    FBS: Strangely enough he never came forward. The photographer who took it had no idea who he was and he must have never seen it…

  • DEBATE: Should Gay Men Be On PrEP?

    Around 100,000 people in the UK are living with HIV – that figure is ten times the number of HIV positive cases 10 years ago.

    There could be a great many reasons as to why the number is growing – are we perhaps simply more sexually active then we were before, inevitably leading to the rise in STDs and ultimately HIV? Are we not educated enough in the dangers of STDs, HIV and AIDS? Or is it perhaps a case of miseducation – do we just not know enough to warrant caution when it comes to unprotected sex?

    Whatever the reason may be, the facts remain stubbornly resolute.

    One in five cases of HIV in the UK go undiagnosed.6,360 new HIV diagnoses were made in 2012 alone 3010 of those new diagnoses were gay or bisexual men.

    And with the rise of new cases growing and growing, the medicine used to treat the virus has developed to meet the challenge of – primarily – helping those infected live as normal a life as possible, but also to find ways of preventing the spread of the virus.

    PrEP is the newest discovery in HIV prevention.

    PrEP – or pre-exposure prophylaxis – is a new method of prevention for those who are at high risk of getting HIV.

    Meant to be taken daily, each pill contains within it some of the same medicine used to stabilise the virus in people who are already living with HIV, with the goal of preventing infection from taking hold if you’re exposed to the virus.

    Since its mass availability, the drug has seen a heavy use-count in members of the LGBT community – especially gays and bisexuals. The reason for this is not hard to guess at; along with black African heterosexuals, gay and bisexual men are the most affected by HIV. In fact, three-quarters of people diagnosed with the virus in 2012 were among these two groups.

    So should we use PrEP?

    ‘Yes’ seems to be the answer if you’re deemed at high risk of being infected with HIV. This includes those in an ongoing relationship with a HIV-infected partner or anyone who has injected illicit drugs or shared drug-taking equipment within the last six months.

    When combined with other preventative tools – namely condoms – PrEP provides a greater level of protection from HIV than just contraceptives, or, of course, no protection at all.

    So… are there any downsides?

    While some people in the clinical study of the drug showed early and temporary side effects such as an upset stomach or a loss of appetite, it seems the only downside to taking PrEP is in fact to stop taking PrEP. It is not a vaccine (as of yet, no vaccine exists for HIV), and so called intermittent usage of PrEP (starting, stopping, starting, stopping…) shows a sharp decline in the drug’s effectiveness, according to health experts.

    For those who took the medicine consistently during trials for the drug, results showed that the risk of contracting HIV was up to 92% lower than those who were not taking PrEP.

    So while there’s still no cure or vaccine for HIV, the pharmaceutical industry is doing all it can to make the virus at least manageable. The introduction of PrEP seems to be something of a tactical curveball, in that the creators seem to be emphasising prevention rather than cure – at least, until there is one.

  • CAR REVIEW | Zoe, Renault Electric dreams? Living with the Renault Zoe

    The electric car has seen a significant rise in popularity in recent years. Once seen as the preserve of milk floats and mobility scooters, advances in battery technology have increased range, reduced charging time and made electric vehicles seem a viable option.

    The question is how do they perform in the real world? Only one way to find out….

    Renault’s Zoe is an all-electric supermini that is around the same length and width as a Clio (they even share a platform) but a bit taller. You wouldn’t call it an MPV or a crossover but you do find yourself looking over the roofs of most other cars meaning visibility is excellent. Thanks to clever packaging of the batteries, motor and other mechanical bits there’s plenty of space inside. Front seat passengers will be able to stretch out and even wear a hat while those in the back won’t be much worse off. It’s no limo but it’s certainly better than you’d expect from this size of car. Open the boot and you’ll be pleasantly surprised again; it’s huge for a supermini although the load lip is a little high and does without a plastic trim. It’s a minor thing but I’d worry about scratching the paint when loading something heavy or bulky. More of an annoyance are the pair of charging leads in bags either side of the boot.

    Other manufacturers can hide them away so why can’t Renault?
    Style wise I think Renault are onto a winner. There are a few touches such as the blue rear lights and ‘ZE’ (zero emissions) badge that suggests electric propulsion but unlike cars like the G-Wizz or Renault’s own Twizy, these aren’t overt. Instead, you get a nicely sculpted shape that hides its height well. The only angle I’m not keen on is the rear; the feature lines that flank the number plate and lead into the bumper make it look a bit jowly. Inside is light, airy and modern with visually appealing plastics. Sure they’re hard to the touch but then you have to remember the cheapest Zoe is less than £14,000 including a £5,000 government grant. Even the top of the range model barely breaches £20,000. You’d spend an awful lot more on an electric Golf which would be a lot more austere too. At that price, you do need to lease a battery pack at between £70 and £113 a month. If you want to buy the battery outright then add £4500 to the base price.

    Renault’s 7” ‘R-Link’ infotainment system works well being easy to navigate, easy to pair a phone to via Bluetooth and lacking any sort of lag other systems sometimes suffer from. Sat-nav is an option but a CD player is not. For me, this isn’t really a problem as streaming music is simple plus you can always use the USB or aux port conveniently placed above a cubbyhole perfect for your media device. Conventional dials have been replaced by another TFT screen which I found clear and easy to use. There’s even a gauge to show you how much juice you’re using and when you’re charging the batteries whilst slowing down. This becomes a very useful tool when you’re looking to maximise the car’s range.

    Speaking of range, Renault suggests that on average you’ll need to charge up every 80 miles. In practice, this distance is totally achievable as long as you change your driving style to suit electric power. Gentle acceleration and deceleration is vital as is maintaining your speed where possible. While this may sound like hassle, the reality is that it’s actually pretty relaxing. You soon get used to barely touching the brake pedal, instead relying on the car’s regenerative brakes that harvest energy as you start coasting. What may grate is that air-con and heating take a chunk out of the range; not an issue on short commutes but potentially a worry on longer journeys. Still, chargers are popping up all the time and the most powerful can squeeze 80% of a full charge into the Zoe in 30 minutes.

    So what’s it like to drive? Being electric there’s only one forward gear plus reverse with no clutch at all. I suppose you could compare it to an automatic (there’s only a throttle and brake pedal) but with totally seamless acceleration. Performance below 40mph is actually pretty brisk, feeling much quicker than the numbers suggest. Over 40 it does struggle a little as the torque drops off significantly. 70mph is achievable but it drains the battery very very quickly; it’s better to stick to 60 or below and relax. The ride is fairly comfortable although the stiff sidewalls of the low profile economy tyres mean potholes and expansion joints can thump through the suspension into the cabin. There is a fair amount of body roll if you push it hard around a corner but it never feels unstable thanks to the low mounted batteries. You’d never call it fun or involving but it is very competent and not at all unpleasant, perfect for commuting in other words.

    With that in mind, it’s commuting that I did plenty of in my week with the car. Renault will supply all Zoes with a fast charger as plugging it into a normal electric socket gives a charging time of 16 hours. Thankfully I had access to a fast charger which ensured the car was always 100% charged at the end of the working day.

    In total, I travelled nearly 400 miles and came away very impressed. Only once did I suffer from any ‘range anxiety’ but even then I was able to get to a charger which topped up the battery enough to get me home after less than 45 minutes.

    Make no mistake, the Zoe won’t be for everyone. If you need to go more than 80 miles in a day and/or spend a lot of time on motorways then you’re better off sticking to a diesel. For the rest of us – a sizable majority – then the Zoe does make sense. It’s quiet, refined, easy to drive and very spacious while the styling is significantly nicer than the vast number of ‘eco’ cars. If I were in the market for a new supermini, the Zoe would be a serious contender.

    PROS

    Spacious

    Easy to drive

    Fast charging times
    Cons

    CONS

    Range could still be better

    Not much fun

    Charging cable storage could be better

  • Passengers Overhear Homophobic Bus Driver Blaming “Bum Busters” For Traffic

    A petition is calling for the sacking of a bus driver in Northern Ireland after using a homophobic slur during Belfast Pride.

    (more…)

  • PRIDE: Swindon & Wiltshire Pride Ready To Party In The Park

    After a packed park last year, Swindon & Wiltshire Pride are ready to do it all again this weekend. Good weather, check. Headline acts, booked. Carnival parade, final feathers, glitter and sequins being sewn on!

    (more…)

  • INTERVIEW: Jonny Benjamin, Saved By A Man Called “Mike”

    In 2008, drama student Jonny Benjamin decided to take his life, by jumping from Waterloo Bridge in London. One man saved his life.

    What ensued was one of the most impressive manhunts in the history of Twitter. #FindMike (a man actually named Neil Laybourn) became a worldwide trend and attracted global mainstream media in the search for this one man who made the difference between life and death. We speak to Jonny about how his story is now the subject of a new documentary The Stranger On The Bridge, and how coming out as gay was equally as hard as coming out with a mental illness.

    JH: Now that the documentary is out and it’s not just morning TV or radio snippets, but the story told by you, can you describe how you feel?

    JB: It feels quite surreal to be honest for it to be out there. It feels good. I’ve had some really amazing feedback from people that either feel that they’ve been educated or people that have been going through similar things themselves. I’m really pleased with the reaction.

    JH: Does it feel like you’ve got closure?

    JB: Yeah it does. It feels like that chapter is closed, it was a really dark place that I was in and it feels like that door is closed to that chapter now. Which is a good feeling.

    JH: But Hollywood is knocking on the door?

    JB: Yeah, we have had approaches from Hollywood, again very surreal, but we’re in early days and early stages.

    JH: You’ve talked about getting closure and how it feels good, but how do you feel about this story being on the silver screen, going out to an even wider audience than you’ve had so far?

    JB: It’s great because the whole point of this is to raise awareness of both suicide and mental illness. If it goes even bigger, or even further then great, because it will increase awareness, help more people. So I’m happy for it to go far and wide as possible, if it’s going to help people.

    JH: How discriminatory do you think society is for those living with mental health problems?

    JB: I think it’s getting much better, I think the stigma around mental illness is decreasing, so it’s getting easier to live with a mental illness in public. It’s still got some way to go though, particularly for conditions like schizophrenia. There’s a lot of understanding out there on depression and bipolar, but there’s very little understanding about schizophrenia.

    I was reading one survey, it said that three quarters of people with schizophrenia don’t tell their friends and family, which is a huge number. So there’s a lot of stigma out there about schizophrenia and that’s the point of the film we’ve just done, to reduce that stigma really.

    JH: Was it difficult to go back to the bridge and to Neil (the man dubbed Mike) again and revisit the past?

    JB: At some points it was difficult. When I looked through all the photos of the different Mikes that came forward… that was really difficult. You definitely have to go back to that place that you were (at). I found that quite tough. Going back to the bridge? I got used to it in the end. We had so many interviews and so many photo-shoots on the bridge, you get used to it really.

    JH: Since the broadcast of the film, have you noticed people treating you differently?

    JB: No, I haven’t to be honest. Not at all. Everyone’s been the same with me. Almost like it hasn’t happened now. It feels quite strange, feels like it was a bit of a dream. No one’s treating me differently. What I have got is a really overwhelming response, which is lovely. Really overwhelming. In a good way.

    JH: Twitter can be used so positively but also it is a platform for trolling. Do you have a mechanism to deal with negativity? One particular celebrity who will go unmentioned had a pop… How are you dealing with people that might criticise you for bringing this issue to light?

    JB: I just try and ignore it really. Ninety-nine per cent of people had positive feedback to say. It was just one or two people who were critical of it. I just ignore it really. They’re looking to start a fight and I don’t want to detract attention away from what the programme is really about, which is to raise awareness. I don’t really care what they say to be honest. It just shows their ignorance really. I feel sorry for them if anything.

    CREDIT: Supplied by PR

    PICTURED: Mike, Whose real name is Neil.

    JH: What do you feel about the term mental health or mental illness? Could it be expressed better?

    JB: With mental health there is that stigma. But what other words do you use really? I know some people have got issues around mental health and mental illness but I really don’t know what other term we would use. We’ve all got mental health. It’s like a spectrum really.

    JH: Do you think more celebrities like Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax should be coming out with their mental health issues?

    JB: I think it’s really tough, because of the stigma for people to come out, but I think it’s happening, especially in the last few years I’ve noticed that people are becoming a lot more open. There should be no shame in it really. The more high profile people who come out and talk about it, is fantastic really. It inspires other people to do the same.

    JH: How much has your sexuality played a part in your depression and in your schizophrenia? Is there a connection?

    JB: I think there is. It was a massive weight on my shoulders hiding my sexuality and it definitely contributed towards what I went through I’d say. I was so scared about coming out. I come from a Jewish family and it’s something that’s frowned upon in the Jewish religion. I was really scared about coming out. It definitely added to my mental health issues for sure. When I came out eventually, I came out two months after I was diagnosed; it completely changed my life around for the better. Struggling with my sexuality definitely contributed to my suicidal thoughts and feelings. That’s how terrified I was about coming out.

    JH: Which was easier to come out about for you? Being gay or having mental health issues?

    JB: I think it’s equally hard to be honest. Equally as hard. Coming out about my mental illness was tough, really tough especially towards my friends. I found it really tough to come out to them. But with coming out about sexuality I found it harder to come out to my family.

    JH: People must feel like they know so much about you, but really they only know a certain section about you, because there’s more to you than a) being gay and b) having a mental illness. Do you think people think that’s it? Nothing more to Jonny? Does being open with your mental health make it difficult to find a partner?

    JB: Having mental health issues makes it difficult to find a partner more than anything. Things like paranoia and intrusive thoughts – some of the symptoms of schizophrenia are heightened when you’re in a relationship. I’ve never been in a proper relationship, I would say and I’ve always found it quite hard dealing with mental health issues when you’re with a person. A lack of understanding about my mental health makes it even harder. I might be very paranoid about where they’re going, whom they’re seeing. It’s a level of trust that I find hard to gain.

    JH: So are you more interested in looking after yourself at the moment then finding a partner?

    JB: Yeah. The last two months have been really difficult; I became ill again at the end of last year. That’s my priority now to get my mental health back on track and relationships will come second.

    JH: Is the NHS or the Government doing enough to engage in this issue?

    JB: There’s nowhere near enough, in the UK there’s 17 suicides every day. The reason why it’s so bad is because there’s not enough education and support. We should be going into schools at an early age, into universities and work places as well to educate people and let them know that they’re not alone and they can get support if they’re struggling. It feels like a taboo, the subject we don’t want to talk about. But it’s all about reaching out.

    When I was 16 or 17 at school and I was really starting to struggle with my mental health, if someone would have come in, a guest speaker, and just said “This is what mental health is, this is what you can do”, it would have changed my life around.

    But unless we start talking about it then more and more people are going to suffer and unfortunately take their lives.

    If you need to talk to somebody about issues raised in this interview there is a helpline for the LGBT community open from 10AM to 11PM everyday of year. Call: 0300 330 0630 or visit: www.llgs.org.uk

  • DEPRESSION CRISIS: One Quarter Of Gay Men Surveyed Tried Committing Suicide

    Shocking new statistics from GMFA’s FS magazine show that nearly one quarter of gay men who have suffered from depression have tried to kill themselves.

    A startling survey in the latest issue of FS magazine uncovers the true extent of the effects of depression on gay men. Around 600 men, who identified that they had or were suffering from depression, were asked if they had tried to commit suicide and around 24%, nearly one quarter, said they had, that number increased to over half when asked if they had had suicidal thoughts.

    Around 54% of gay men surveyed said that they had considered ending their lives, with self-esteem being the biggest contributor to their thoughts.

    For those men living with HIV, 66% identified their diagnosis as the leading cause of depression and suicidal thoughts.

    Simon, 36 from Oxford, is one of the many HIV-positive gay men who responded. He says: “I was diagnosed with HIV in January 2012. I was having lots of risky sex and I knew eventually it would happen but didn’t really care. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed that reality set in. I wasn’t ready for it and became depressed. It affected my job. It affected my social life and I became a recluse.”

    Anthony is 26 and from London. He told FS that after his diagnosis he couldn’t handle it. He said: “About three months after I was told I was HIV-positive I tried to overdose. I didn’t cope at all with being told I had the virus. I thought my life was over and suicide was the best option. Luckily my attempt failed.”

    When asked, what were the main reasons HIV-positive gay men felt suicidal or why they attempted suicide, 66% said ‘Living with HIV’ was the main issue with ‘Low self-esteem (60%) and relationship issues (39%).

    “HIV remains one of the most stigmatised of all health conditions,” says Matthew Hodson, Chief Executive of GMFA. “Rates of depression among gay men with HIV are twice as high as they are among other gay men, affecting about one in every four men. And depression in men with HIV can lead to poor adherence, which can have a major impact on their physical health as well.

    “Depression also has an impact on someone’s likelihood of becoming HIV-positive,” adds Matthew. “A recent study showed that men with depressive symptoms were more likely to have unprotected sex, and to have unprotected sex with several partners. Tackling the mental health challenges faced by gay men is crucial if we are going to reduce the high levels of sexual risk-taking and high incidence of HIV in our community.”

    Ian adds:

    “Gay men are just as likely to face the same everyday struggles straight people face on a day-to-day basis with the added pressure of their sexuality. For HIV-positive gay men the issues they faced were greater due to their diagnosis. The gay men in our new issue wanted to share their stories in a bid to help other gay men realise that they are not alone. The first thing to do when trying to fix a problem is admitting you have one. So, hello gay people… we have a problem.”

    Last year helpline charity Samaritans revealed that 1 in ten male callers were worried about their sexuality.

    The new issue of FS magazine can be read online for free by going to: www.fsmag.org.uk

    If you’d like support Please call 08457 90 90 90 (UK) 1850 60 90 90 (ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of the nearest branch.

    Or phone Switchboard on 0330 330 0630

More posts