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  • Nigel Farage Invited To HIV Play “Positive” After Debate Remarks

    The leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage has been invited to a comedy about HIV called “Positive” by the show’s producers after his remarks about HIV in last week’s Leaders’ Debate.

    Positive credit Bobbin
    Positive credit Bobbin

    In a brand new outing for the play, which previously ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013 and completed a critically acclaimed run at Waterloo East Theatre in May 2014, the show is inspired by true stories from those who are living with HIV.

    Playwright Shaun Kitchener said: “I’m so excited that Positive is part of the Park Theatre’s line-up this year. Whenever HIV is presented on-stage or on-screen it’s usually all doom, gloom and death-beds; but that’s simply not the case in 2015.

    “HIV sufferers in Britain today are reportedly more likely to die from depression resulting from the stigma attached to them than they are from the virus itself. It’s not that it’s a medical walk in the park, but it’s not a death sentence anymore – and it’s about time theatre reflected this. If Mr Farage wants to come along and see the play for himself to learn a thing or two, we’d be more than happy to have him.”

    “Following UKIP leader Nigel Farage’s outrageous claims made about HIV and immigrants at last week’s Leaders’ Debate, an open invitation stands to have him along to watch the play – and find that the stigma he fiercely promoted is total BS,” say the producers of the show.

    View image | gettyimages.com

     

    Nigel Farage was lambasted by the other leaders on the televised debate, with Plaid Cymru’s leader Leanne Wood winning the first applause from the audience after saying that he should be “ashamed” for his remarks.

    Dr Rosemary Gillespie, CEO Terrence Higgins Trust said: “It was great to see so many people express outrage after Farage’s comments about the numbers of people in the UK with HIV who were not born here. HIV is a public health issue in the UK and globally. If we do not take an inclusive approach and provide treatment for people who need it, we will never prevent onward transmission. 24% of people living with HIV in the UK do not know they are living with it, and 4 in every 10 are diagnosed at a late stage, after they needed to start treatment. HIV doesn’t discriminate and politicians shouldn’t either. Such ill-informed and discriminatory comments generate stigma, and make it harder to encourage people to take a test and stay safe”.

    Positive runs July 9 to August 1 at the Park Theatre near Finsbury Park, London N4.

    Tickets available: https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/positive

  • Top 30 Things That Get Parents Down

    With more children being born and adopted by same-sex couples the top 30 parenting challenges have been revealed.

    Challenges faced by parents are universal from being able to afford everything for your child, a lack of sleep to getting children to eat what you put in front of them.

    Researchers from a new study have found nine in ten parents feel they face a series of challenges to bring up their children every day with having enough money at the top of the list.

    Dealing with tantrums, encouraging children to work hard at school and do their homework and even getting them up in the mornings also rank highly.

    Other hectic events mums and dads face include coping when a child is ill, giving your child what they want without spoiling them and going shopping with the kids in tow.

    A spokeswoman for RESCUE REMEDY, which commissioned the research said, ‘’Everyone faces some challenges in their day-to-day lives, but for parents, these can be more difficult than most.

    ‘’As well as looking after yourself and making sure your day goes to plan, you also have to worry about everything your children do, or perhaps don’t do.

    ‘’Everything from getting them out of bed and to school on time, right though to making sure they eat the right foods and go to sleep at a decent time and without too much drama can make the average day frantic enough.

    ‘’But throw in the challenges which are always there, like money worries or whether you are doing the right thing in the way you bring up your children can mean many parents are often strained or tense.”

    The study of 2,000 parents found having enough money to afford everything that their child asks for is the biggest challenge faced on a daily basis, followed by dealing with a lack of sleep, having patience and encouraging their children to eat their meals.

    Dealing with an ill child came fifth in the poll.

    Keeping on top of the chores, encouraging children to do their homework and work hard at school, dealing with tantrums and getting children out of bed completed the top ten. Other challenges on the list include coping with sibling rivalry, knowing how to answer all of their probing questions and toilet training.

    Childcare features heavily among the list, with finding and juggling childcare as well as trying to work around an ill child in the top 20.

    Other trials faced by parents include managing the school run, getting small children to sleep through the night and dealing with other competitive parents.

    Researchers also found 83 per cent of parents feel they experience something challenging about being a parent every single day.

    And eight in ten admit being a parent is more challenging than they thought it would be, with another 81 per cent believing it’s only going to get more difficult as their children get older.

    But while one in twenty say the newborn and baby stage was the most challenging for them as a parent, a staggering 66 per cent say it’s the teenage years which they found most trying.

    As a result of the daily trials and tribulations parents face, 87 per cent have days where they feel there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything they need done.

    And almost nine in ten have days where they feel under pressure or strained as they try to juggle everything in their lives.

    Despite 88 per cent wishing they had more time to relax a little, the average parent gets just five-and-a-half hours a week – less than an hour a day – to unwind.

    One in twenty even claims they feel they never get time to truly relax.

    A spokeswoman for RESCUE REMEDY added, “The research revealed an alarming nine out of ten parents face a series of challenges bringing up their child every day.

    “Parents have so many roles and responsibilities to juggle and need to feel that they can accomplish all of these, without the underlying feeling that these can at times be too much to handle.

    “RESCUE is trying to encourage parents to stop and take a moment out of their busy day with RESCUE REMEDY by their side.”

    Top 30 parenting challenges

    1. Being able to afford everything your child needs or wants

    2. Dealing with a lack of sleep

    3. Having patience

    4. Encouraging your child to eat their meals

    5. Dealing with an ill child

    6. Keeping on top of the household chores

    7. Encouraging your children to do all their homework

    8. Encouraging your child to work hard at school

    9. Tantrums

    10. Getting children up in the mornings

    11. Giving your child what they want without spoiling them

    12. Worries about whether you are doing the right thing

    13. Getting your child to eat fruit/veg

    14. Going shopping with children in tow

    15. Getting your child to clean their teeth properly, twice a day

    16. Getting time off work when your children are ill

    17. Encouraging your child to stay in bed at night

    18. Sibling rivalry

    19. Knowing the answer to all of your children’s questions

    20. Finding/juggling childcare

    21. Getting your child dressed in the morning

    22. Getting your baby/child to sleep at night

    23. Getting to work on time after the school run

    24. Getting your children to school on time

    25. Stopping your children from swearing or using bad language

    26. Getting your baby/child to sleep through the night

    27. Toilet training

    28. Tackling bullying

    29. Other competitive parent

    30. Trying to keep your children from spending too much time in front of a computer/TV screens

  • Robbie Rogers Urges FIFA To Consider Gay Fans Safety For World Cup

    Openly gay footballer Robbie Rogers has reminded FIFA to include basic human rights in its guidelines when choosing a host country for the World Cup.

    FIFA came under fire in December 2010 when it was announced that Qatar, infamous for its abuses on the rights of gay people and women, won the hosting obligations for the World Cup 2022. Qatar will be the first Arab nation to host the World Cup.

    Many human rights campaigners were concerned that gay football fans and players could be subject to humiliating tests, which could include anal probing, to ascertain whether they were gay or not. Currently, gay men and women face between one and three years in prison if caught.

    Robbie Rogers who came out in 2013 reminded FIFA about gay and women’s rights and urged the organisation to make those considerations part of the guidelines for future hosting countries. In an interview with GQ he said,

    “I would hope that FIFA would be sensitive not only to gay rights but also women’s rights and basic human rights, and they should pick host countries for the World Cup based on what’s best for the competition—that’s what the athletes and fans want.”

    “So my goal is to create a dialogue with FIFA and convince them to create guidelines for how they choose countries to host the World Cup going forward, so that they only pick countries that ensure the safety of all the athletes and all the fans.”

    In Qatar it has been reported that a small advertising campaign has been started to educate tourists and expatriates about appropriate clothing for men and women to wear in public, suggesting that when in Qatar “you are one of us”.

  • A “Trans” Woman Abused On Street In Experiment To See If People Would Help

    The social experiment by Trollstation showed a ‘Transvestite’ abused by an actor on the street to see if passersby would step in.

    Trollstation
    Actors create a scene on a busy London street to see if anyone would help a trans woman.

     

    The experiment filmed by Trollstation showed footage of passersby standing around as one actor hurled abuse at another actor named Neg, who used to star in Channel 4’s Balls Of Steel, playing a transgender woman. The man is seen abusing the “transvestite” and saying, in front of a growing crowd, that ‘he’ was disgusting and ‘messed up’ whilst using violent hand gestures.

    Neg Dupree asked passersby for help, with one woman stepping in and suggesting that he ‘leaves it’ and for Neg to just “go somewhere else”.

    The man, who then says that the woman should ‘burn in fire’ is then turned on by Neg, who says “If you point at me again I’ll drop you alright, f**king jog on”, as onlookers stand amused at the unfolding scene, before being told that it was a social experiment to see if anyone would step in to save the trans woman.

  • The Top 15 Breeds Of Dog Most Likely To Run Away Revealed

    Restless retrievers are the breed of dog most likely to go walkabout, according to new research.

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    They emerged at the top of a list of runaway pups compiled from a survey of 2,000 dog owners in Britain.

    The breed to land in the ‘runner-up’ spot was the Cocker Spaniel which was followed by the Jack Russell.

    While it was the German Shepherd that was found to be the fourth most common breed to have owners worrying.

    The study, commissioned by Blue Cross pet charity, reminds pet owners that they have just a year to make sure the pet is microchipped before it becomes compulsory by law on 6 April 2016.

    The charity also advises microchipping can help reunite missing pets with their owners after they admitted 1,673 dogs and cats last year because owners could not be traced.

    Sarah Bussell, Rehoming Supervisor at Blue Cross said: “Many dogs just want to play and explore but it was interesting to see Labradors came on top for being the most likely breed to run away.

    “While they don’t mean to become lost, if they catch a smell or see something exciting in the distance it can be hard to get their attention and call them back to you.

    “And if you panic, sometimes they will get scared, so the best thing to do is try and remain calm and encourage them to come back to you with a toy or tasty treat.

    “It is important to teach your dog good recall from a young age and also make sure your dog has a tag and is microchipped, to help the chances of you being reunited if they become lost.

    “It also means you will be fully compliant with the law with new regulations about microchipping now just a year away”.

    Finishing off the top five list of dogs most likely to run away from home or while on a walk was the English Springer Spaniel.

    Staffordshire Bull Terriers are also culprits for sneaking off and leaving their owners searching for them.

    The average dog owner has had the panic of losing man’s best friend three times already, and six in ten know other owners who have lost their pet as well.

    Still surprisingly, one in five don’t have their pet dog microchipped, and half of these owners admit they probably won’t ever have it done.

    While having a microchip isn’t currently compulsory, it will be in a year, so those expecting to leave their dog unchipped could be facing a hefty fine.

    When asked how much they believed the fine would be, one third believed it wouldn’t be any more than £100 when they’re looking at forking out anything up to £500 in reality.

    Dogs wearing a tag when in public, is already the law but only 23 per cent of owners knew this was the case and only half knew the tag must include your name.

    While one in six owners are certain that vet details should be included on the tag.

    A further third still felt the fine for a dog being without a tag was a small £100 when really they risk facing a fine of up to £5,000 if their dog is not wearing a correct ID tag in public.

    Sarah added: “So many animals arrive at our centres as strays but they have clearly been cared for and could be much-loved and much missed pets.

    “Dogs like Taters who is just over a year old and came to us from the pound. She is a lovely dog who understands basic commands so someone must have taken the time to train her.

    “Her owner could be missing her if she is lost but without a microchip there is no way we can trace them. She’s currently being cared for by Blue Cross until will find her a loving new home.”

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    TOP 15 DOG BREED MOST LIKELY TO RUN AWAY

    1. Labrador Retriever

    2. Cocker Spaniel

    3. Jack Russell

    4. German Shepherd

    5. English Springer Spaniel

    6. Staffordshire Bull Terrier

    7. Border Collie

    8. West Highland Terrier

    9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    10. Yorkshire Terrier

    11. Boxer

    12. Border Terrier

    13. Pug

    14. Poodle

    15. Chihuahua

  • UPDATE: #Pizza4Equality Reaches $55,000

    The campaign to raise $800,000 for homeless LGBT youth in the US has hit a stunning $50,000 after just two days.

    The campaign called Pizza4Equality, which is supporting Cyndi Lauper‘s True Colors Foundation, has an aim to match the $800,000 (£550,000) raised for Memories Pizza, a business in Indiana which attracted world-wide exposure after the owners admitted that they would refuse service to LGBT couples, based on their belief system. Over 29,000 people supported the money raised through GoFundMe.

    The campaign has now been backed by 1486 people, raising over $55,000, with seven donors paying $500 each.

    Mr Wooledge said,

    “There is much disgust and consternation in the LGBT community over a viral fundraiser effort, that has as of this writing, earned $842,387. Many have lamented, ‘if only our cause could raise that much money that fast’

    “I say, yes, we can.

    “So I looked and saw that Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund has set April 29 as the first national #40toNoneDay to end #LGBT youth homelessness! And I thought, would it not be totally awesome if we equality supporters (and pizza lovers) could match that #MemoriesPizza “charity” by April 29? Can we match their amount and help homeless youth get off the street, learn life skills and get an education and jobs?

    “I’m an dreamer, but I say yes, we can!”

  • ART REVIEW: Alexander McQueen God Of The Runway: Savage Beauty

    When the retrospective work of British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was exhibited at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2011, tickets moved quicker than Naomi Campbell’s mobile during a hissy-fit.

    (more…)

  • Pizza For Equality Campaign Raises $16,000 in 24 Hours

    A campaign to raise money for homeless LGBT youth in the US has earned $16,000 in just 24 hours in a marked contrast to a campaign set up to boost the failings of a family owned pizzeria which would refuse services to gay couples.

    Pizza4Equality

    The campaign called Pizza4Equality has an aim to match the $800,000 (£550,000) raised for Memories Pizza, a business in Indiana which attracted world-wide exposure after the owners admitted that they would refuse service to LGBT couples, based on their belief system. Over 29,000 people supported the money raised through GoFundMe.

    Pizza4Equality, which was organised by Scott Wooledge aims to raise the same amount for the Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund, whose focus is to end LGBT homelessness. The fund has already been backed by 449 donations and raised $16,520 (£11,072) so far.

    Mr Wooledge said,
    “There is much disgust and consternation in the LGBT community over a viral fundraiser effort, that has as of this writing, earned $842,387. Many have lamented, ‘f only our cause could raise that much money that fast’

    “I say, yes, we can.

    “So I looked and saw that Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund has set April 29 as the first national #40toNoneDay to end #LGBT youth homelessness! And I thought, would it not be totally awesome if we equality supporters (and pizza lovers) could match that #MemoriesPizza “charity” by April 29? Can we match their amount and help homeless youth get off the street, learn life skills and get an education and jobs?

    “I’m an dreamer, but I say yes, we can!”

    Visit the funding page here

     

  • Anti-gay Marriage Pizza Shop Makes $800,000 in Donations

    The pizzeria that publicly admitted that it would refuse services to gay and lesbian couples because of the owners’ religious beliefs has managed to raise over $800,000 in donations on a crowdfunding site.

    Both Crystal and Kevin O‘Connor stated their discomfort with gay and lesbian couples and that they would refuse to serve at a same-sex wedding, with Mr O’Connor even going as far as to describe homosexuality as a “choice”, and questioning why he should be “beat over the head to go along with something they choose?”.

    The family allegedly went into hiding due to ‘abuses’ levied at the business, which included leaving ‘gay reviews’ on Yelp and other review sites. However, according to Blaze.TV the family have made a stunning ‘comeback’ after receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from well-wishers across the country.

    Lawrence Billy Jones III one of the Television Opinion Contributors at BlazeTV set up a crowdfunding, on GoFundme, “To relieve the financial loss endured by the proprietors’ stand for faith.”

    The funder that has now been closed received over 29,000 donations totalling $842,637 (£564,770) to the owners of Memories Pizza. Donations began to pour in after a segment on an emotionally led interview on BlazeTV’s Dana Loesch’s show, in which the gun loving, conservative commentator called the O’Connor’s story a “culture war” – and “when you stand for faith, you don’t stand alone.”

    According to the organisers of the funding page “The final act on our end is to give contact info of the O’Connor family to GoFundMe. No need for concern as GoFundMe will only release to this family and this family alone. After this, it is all between the family and GoFundMe.”

    GoFundme, the crowdfunding site that hosted the campaign initially failed to tackle any of the homophobic comments made by pledgers.

    Brett Jeffreyes who donated $250 said,

    “Sadly this is the first wave. We are seeing the rise of GAY SHARIA. They will go to any length to destroy people of conscience and good will. I expect to see Gay Sharia violence supported by both Social and mainstream Media in my lifetime.”

    And Brennan Doherty who donated $10 said,

    “God bless them for not agreeing to support the farce of gay marriage.”

    Comments have now been removed and all donations are registered as “anonymous”.

    First-term Republican Governor Mike Pence has now signed a ‘fix’ to the law so that it does not discriminate against the LGBT community. He has insisted, however, that the law wasn’t the problem, but how it was being perceived. The law now has protections based on sexual orientation for the first time in its history.

  • FILM REVIEW: Kink, The no-holds-barred documentary on Kink

    KINK.com is the largest producer of online BDSM porn movies in the USA and was started by Peter Ackworth, a Brit, from his Dorm Room at school in the UK in 1997. Now based in an enormous defunct Armory Building in San Francisco with many of the original facilities untouched as they make prefect sets for a lot of the perverse activity that now fills the building.

    Kink produce movies for the 30 odd different sites they now operate and they cover the whole Bondage and Sado Masochism spectrum from slave training, rope bondage, femdom, gay public Sex, bondage gangbang, female domination, submissive women, lesbian bondage, shemales, naked wrestling, pissing, and sex machines etc etc. And in this no-holds-barred documentary you get to witness several of the extreme films being made …. I hope the participants were acting in part at least because what they allowed their bodies to be subjected too looked awfully painful from where I was sitting.

    Filmmaker Christina Voros set out to go behind the mystique of the industry and as she is being shown around the building there is a hilarious scene where she cannot make herself heard above the din coming from the other end of the floor, Ackworth explains there is an orgy underway… not something you hear every day. She interviews several of the directors who, with the odd exception, are very matter of fact about their work and how they want to simply be the best in their genre. Occasionally one will try to intellectualize what they are about, but when they tried to align this to an art form, they get twisted up in more knots than the models on set.

    There is also something rather wholesome about the big family atmosphere that permeates throughout the whole company… and it is rather fascinating to watch the directors and management have their monthly meeting to discuss their success. Why they ask, have the ratings for ‘Divine Bitches’ soared whilst ‘Electo Sluts’ is on the decline? Why indeed, but evidently there are fashions and trends that must be watched even in the sex industry.

    The fly on the wall approached worked well and Ms Voros allowed us to witness it all without narration and more importantly, without judgement. Was it shocking? In parts, yes but not the graphic sex but more the aggressive bondage parts in particular. Did we learn anything? Well, yes… thanks to a Dominatrix we know how to stand on an erect penis in stiletto heels without causing any pain. Was it entertaining? To an extent, but it is essentially one big Advertorial for the Kink sites, which lessens its impact and certainly its importance as a general essay on the S + M industry. Would we recommend it? Certainly if you want to be reminded how boring your own sex life really is.

    One our favourite anecdotes was when one of the models had just finished a very intensive hardcore slave/submission movie and dressed in his white terry robe he walked into the main office and was politely asked how his scene had gone. He replied very matter-of-fact “I got f***ed good”. And there you have it.

    by Roger Walker-Dack

  • EastEnders: Kat And Alfie Get Their Own Show

    EastEnders’ favourites, Kat and Alfie, will be taking a break from Walford later this year but even though they are leaving Albert Square they will not be leaving BBC One as they will star in their very own drama series.

    EastEnders
    BBC

     

    Life has been a rollercoaster for the on/off lovers over the past few months but Kat and Alfie soon reunite and have the opportunity to put their past behind them. Only this time viewers can follow, when the episodes air in 2016 them as they head out of Walford to start a new life in six hour long episodes for BBC1

    The six part drama series has been created by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, EastEnders Executive Producer and it will be written and produced by the EastEnders team.

    Speaking about the new drama, Dominic said “In the next few weeks on EastEnders, viewers will witness several huge twists for Kat and Alfie Moon that will change their lives forever. Now is the perfect time to take two of EastEnders’ most beloved and enduring characters out of their comfort zone as they head to Ireland to search for answers to some very big questions… My team here are very excited about creating a whole new drama that stands apart from EastEnders while taking our style of storytelling to a place of stories, myth, secrets and immeasurable beauty.”

    Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One added “Life is anything but dull for favourite EastEnders couple Kat and Alfie as they embark on a new life in Ireland in this exciting drama series. Rest assured, their rollercoaster isn’t set to end any time soon.”

    Speaking of their new drama Shane said “Both Jessie and I are absolutely thrilled to be given this amazing opportunity. To have a whole drama focussed around Kat and Alfie is a huge honour for us both and we just can’t wait to start filming.”

    Jessie Wallace added “I have always loved working on EastEnders so when I heard of this new drama to take Kat and Alfie outside of Walford, I couldn’t believe our luck. To be exploring the next chapter for Kat as well as working alongside my best mate, Shane, is a dream come true and a huge compliment.”

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