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  • Masturbating Man Forces Emergency Landing

    A man who was found masturbating on a Virgin America flight caused panic as he tried to open a door mid flight.

    The flight from Boston to Los Angeles made an emergency landing on Monday morning, in Nebraska after an American passenger, named as Doug Adams, was caught masturbating according to police reports, which were acquired by NBC.

    Adams was reportedly wearing a hospital bracelet and after an argument with a fellow passenger, he attempted to leave the aircraft.

    Another passenger Sam Slater, who filmed the incident said after returning from the toilet the unruly passenger had an argument with a woman next to him. He then said that Adams asked a flight attendant to move the woman away from him.

    ‘He at that point was fidgeting and began to remove the plastic covering from the emergency exit door and tried to pull open the door.

    ‘Fortunately there were a couple of Boston police officers on the flight that were there at that point to help as well.’

  • COMMENT | Why Is Finding A HIV Cure So Difficult?

    Doctor Clovis Palmer discusses why finding a cure for HIV is so difficult.

    HIV hijacks the immune system
    HIV hijacks the immune system’s white blood cells and forces them to make new copies of the virus. Treatment with antiretroviral drugs is remarkably effective at suppressing the virus, and most people who take HIV antiretroviral treatment are able to reduce the amount of HIV circulating in their bloodstream to undetectable levels. However, this treatment is unable to eliminate a tiny but tenacious type of infected white blood cells that contain a copy of the virus’s genetic material. These cells can remain in the body for a very long period, and they allow the virus to re-emerge and cause new rounds of infection if antiretroviral therapy (or ART) is ever interrupted. This is why daily, life-long HIV treatment is essential.

    Functional versus sterilising cure
    Given the challenges of delivering complex, expensive and potentially toxic HIV antiretroviral treatments on a global scale, there is intense interest in developing short-term, well-tolerated treatments that allow individuals to interrupt therapy indefinitely without the virus re-appearing in their blood. This so-called “functional cure” or “remission” will most likely be due to incomplete eradication of all the ‘sleeping HIV’, otherwise known as the HIV reservoir in the body. A sterilising cure on the other hand, which means complete eradication of HIV, will be a more challenging task, particularly if we rely solely on prolonged antiretroviral treatment to eliminate the reservoir. Recent interventions such as stem cell transplant, and very early initiation of antiretroviral therapy, suggest that considerable reductions in the reservoir size are possible but will not be sufficient for a complete cure.

    Major setback for an HIV cure as ‘cured’ infants relapse
    Any hopes that early HIV treatment initiation would be of any long-term benefit, at least in regards to treatment interruption, were given a major setback when reports earlier this year revealed HIV has returned in an infant previously pronounced ‘cured’. The infant was born with HIV infection in December 2009, and was given antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 12 hours of birth. Using the most sensitive laboratory test, HIV was undetectable in the child 3 years later.

    In view of this result, and in agreement with the child’s mother, the doctors stopped antiretroviral therapy. Encouragingly, a week later, HIV was undetectable, but remarkably, the virus reappeared a week later. This news followed an earlier report where HIV returned in yet another infant; the so-called Mississippi child who was born with HIV infection, and was believed to be cured after treatment administration soon after birth. These results dampen any hopes for an HIV cure that envisages exploiting early treatment and ART intensification as a cure strategy – at least using the current treatment modalities.

    “Shock” but no “Kill”
    More recently, another HIV cure approach delivered more disappointing results when a study using the so-called “shock and kill” approach failed to reduce the size of the HIV reservoir in patients. This approach depended on the ability of the virus itself or the patient’s immune system to kill infected cells when the ‘resting HIV’ is awakened. In this study, scientists used a drug called panobinostat, which has been shown to wake up HIV in the test tube. It was expected that this drug, when given in combination with standard antiretroviral treatment, would purge the reservoir. However, analysis of blood cells from patients revealed that this approach was ineffective. The drugs ‘woke up’ the virus but disappointingly; at the end of the study the size of the HIV reservoir remained unchanged.

    These HIV cases raise several important and puzzling questions. The disappointing study results may desensitise the public’s perception of an HIV cure. Are the media and researchers culpable for drumming up the hype that surrounds previous ‘HIV cure’ announcements? Scientists are aware of the limitations to reasonably access HIV in every cell in the body; unless we can analyse every HIV reservoir it will be difficult to convincingly declare someone as ‘cured’. Organs such as the brain, skin, gut, liver, spleen and testes are considered HIV sanctuaries. Given ethical and technical considerations, it will be virtually impossible to conduct appropriate HIV tests in every potential sanctuary. Even if more sensitive tests are developed, one major limitation will still remain: we cannot access where we truly need to measure the virus. So, should researchers be more cautious and perhaps describe these cases in the future as ‘temporary HIV remission’?

    The way forward
    In the December issue of The Lancet HIV, Professor Suzanne Crowe AM, from the Burnet Institute, and I recently highlighted several key issues that should be considered in the future for a more effective “shock and kill” approach. One of these issues is a greater understanding of how the drugs used in this cure strategy affect the immune cells. We know that they can ‘wake up’ the virus, but our understanding of the impact these drugs have on the immune cells where the virus hides is still limited. Scientists have now proposed a new way by which HIV remains indefinitely in the body. Rather than the virus replicating and re-infecting other immune cells, it is the cells that contain the sleeping virus that replicate, consistently re-fuelling the HIV reservoir. We proposed that starving these replicating cells of glucose, a major nutrient required by immune cells, is a potential strategy to decay the virus.

    by Doctor Clovis Palmer

    About the author
    Dr Clovis Palmer has authored several high impact scientific articles and reviews in HIV and obesity-related research, including The Lancet HIV, AIDS, Hepatology, and Gut. He is a reviewer for several international journals including Hepatology, AIDS, Journal of the International AIDS Society, Journal of Leucocyte Biology and Antioxidants and Redox Signalling. He is the chief section editor for HIV at Natural Immunity-Health, Australia (www.naturalimmunity.com.au).

     

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

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW: Rosa’s Thai Cafe, Chelsea

    Rosa’s Thai Cafe which have venues situated in; Spitalfields, Soho, Westfield Stratford, and Carnaby, recently opened their first restaurant that has a bar inside in Chelsea, which I visited recently with a friend.

    The restaurant was quite busy with clientèle appearing to be well off, middle-aged socialites. The restaurant eventually reached maximum capacity which felt a little cramped at times. As much as the large novelty Christmas tree adorned with quirky cute toy stuffed crabs was a talking point, and good show, it probably didn’t help with the spatial availability.

    Obviously inspired by their festive deco, my friend ordered the Soft Shell Crab – crispy crab topped with Thai herbs, shallots, and spicy fresh chilli sauce. This starter came served with a fresh salad of peppers which was a really nice cool contrast to the crispy spicy crab.

    I went for the Spicy Pork Patties – lightly deep fried spiced marinated minced pork with galangal, lemongrass, garlic and chilli. These were cooked really well being uber crisp on the outside and tender, herby and well spiced on the inside. It came served with a smokey honey sauce that was so good I could have done with the double the amount served. Lovely.

    In the space between courses, even with a busy restaurant, the staff were so attentive always ensuring that our water and wine were topped up as required and done so with such stealth it almost gave the impression we had magic never ending glasses.

    For a main I chose the Grilled Jumbo Prawns with spicy fresh chilli sauce, and cooled steamed vegetables. Unfortunately, this dish was really underwhelming. My reason for this being that the prawns had been butterflied and cut in half and not stated to be served in that manner on the menu. I felt they were overcooked and awkward to eat picking the flesh out of the charred outer half shells. It took the fun out of jumbo prawns for me. The cooled steamed vegetables were verging on raw, however, I would much rather vegetables be overly al-dente than mush. The side I chose was Garlic Brown Rice- and considering the amount of crispy garlic it had on top of the rice, it was rather bland unfortunately.

    After then seeing and tasting my friend’s main course, however, I would be interested in going back to Rosa’s Thai and exploring the other curries they have on offer. My friend had Salmon Red Curry- deep fried salmon fillet in light batter in Thai red curry and Thai herbs. The fish was beautiful and the curry sauce it came in was superb. An array of flavours elegantly executed with nothing too overpowering which so many curries can be. The coconut rice that we paired with this was also delicious.

    Lacking a dessert menu the restaurant do offer a coconut or green tea ice cream (not homemade unfortunately) of which we had and shared both. Both these flavours beautiful, my favourite being the green tea. They don’t appear on any menu so you will have to ask and I recommend that you do as it was a really lovely end to the meal.

    It’s a shame my main was not what I was expecting, but the flavours of the other dishes we tried were really good and the fact the restaurant was packed mid-week with locals shows that the Rosa’s Thai in Chelsea must be doing something good. Next time I visit a Rosa’s Thai I will most certainly be having one of their curries.

    REVIEWED BY: by Jordan Lohan
    ADDRESS: 246 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW10 9NA
    VENUE PHONE: 020 3773 8384
    WEBSITE: http://rosasthaicafe.com/chelsea
    STAR RATING: ★★★ (explained)
    PRICE: ££ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY:

  • FILM REVIEW | The Circle, Der Kreis

    The Circle (Der Kreis) is a Swiss docudrama written and directed by Stefan Haupt. The film depicts the social scene that revolved around Der Kreis, a gay publication in Zurich in the 1940s and 1950s, which was used as a scapegoat for the murders of several gay men in the city. Der Kreis (The Circle) was a Swiss gay magazine that was published from 1932 to 1967 and distributed internationally. ★★★★

    CREDIT: The Circle
    CREDIT: The Circle

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  • Where Did The Red Ribbon Come From For World AIDs Day?

    The strong, vibrant red, a symbol that has become synonymous with every 1st December, was designed in 1991.

    A decade after AIDs began its stranglehold, decimating communities, a coalition of 12 artists gathered to devise a plan to raise awareness for Visual Aids, a New York arts organisation which raises awareness of HIV.

    The 12 people consisted of photographers, painters, filmmakers and costume designers. After a short collaboration they came up with the striking, but simple idea of the red ribbon, inspired by the yellow ribbons tied on trees at the time, to denote support for US military fighting in the Gulf war.

    Pink and rainbow colours were rejected because of their association with the LGBT community, and the designers were keen to show that HIV went beyond gay people and could potentially affect everyone.

    The red ribbon logo became recognisable across the globe.

    ‘In one of the worst moments we ever faced we rose above it. We took care of each other. It was extraordinary and beautiful.’ Interview with the director and star How to Survive A Plague.

    The ribbon is worn to signify awareness and support for people living with HIV.

    According to WorldAIDsDay.org, ‘When the artists sat down to work on this project, their aim was to get people talking about HIV. This was during a time where HIV was highly stigmatised and people living with HIV were suffering behind closed doors, some too scared to even tell their loved ones they were living with the virus. The artists wanted to create a visual expression of compassion for people living with, and affected by, HIV.’

    In the very beginning the artists made the ribbons themselves and distributed them around New York. ‘Within weeks of the red ribbon idea being born, world-famous actors starting wearing the red ribbon to high-profile award ceremonies such as the Oscars and talking about why it was important. The media also cottoned on, and within a short space of time the red ribbon symbol became universally recognised.’ Explains the website.

  • As Temperatures Are Set To Plummet, Think About Your Health

    As temperatures start to fall PHE is urging people to think now how the onset of cooler weather could impact their health.

    Every year more than 25,000 extra people die in England over the winter period and many of these deaths are, experts say, preventable.

    Today (1 December 2014) the Met Office has said that by later this week we will get our first taste of cooler weather and temperatures are expected to fall to about what we’d expect for this time of year.

    The winter planning period started on November 1 2014 when PHE and the Met Office began its cold weather alert system, a programme which enables the agencies to make public warnings when particularly chilly weather is forecast. The Met Office’s winter season begins today.

    Mark Wilson, a meteorologist Met Office, said, ‘With today being the start of winter, this week looks likely to see temperatures falling closer to the early December average. This means that by day, temperatures will be around 7 to 10 Celsius, with some nights seeing temperatures fall close to freezing, particularly in more rural areas. As we look ahead to the rest of December, a return to the unseasonably mild conditions of recent times is not currently expected.’

    Dr Angie Bone, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at Public Health England, said, ‘Cold weather can lead to serious health problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, and can make chest diseases worse.

    So before the really cold weather arrives this winter think now how the cold may have an effect on your friends and family. The impact of cold weather is felt most by older people, the very young and those who have pre-existing health conditions, if you know someone in one of these groups, and most of us do, have a look at the cold weather plan or the Keep Warm Keep Well leaflet for practical guidance on what to do to.

    Much of our advice on protecting health indoors is common sense. People should eat warm food and drink hot drinks, heat homes to at least 18C and move about to keep warm. But it’s worth repeating this as some people find these things difficult to do without help. We’re also urging everyone to think of someone they know who may be affected by the cold, an elderly relative, friend or neighbour, someone not in the best of health or with very young children, to take the time to think about what you can do to help protect their health this winter.’

    Professor Keith Willett, NHS England’s clinical director for acute care, said, ‘As a doctor who has spent some 30 years working in A&E, every winter, doctors and nurses see a big increase in the number of people, particularly older and frail people, who are admitted to hospital because of respiratory or other chronic conditions usually worsened by immobility, the cold and viral illnesses.’

    People often don’t seek advice for wheezes, coughs and sneezes because they don’t think it’s serious enough. Our advice is visit your pharmacist if you’re feeling under the weather, no problem is too small and they are a highly trained and trusted source of health advice.

    Follow #winterready (for message alert levels 0 and 1) and #weatheraware (alert levels 2 to 4) on Twitter for winter health advice.

    Top tips keep yourself healthy and your home warm this winter:

    have the flu vaccine if you’re eligible
    heat your home to at least 18C to minimise the risk to health, if heating the whole house is a problem heat the living room during the day and your bedroom just before you go to sleep
    wear a few layers of thin clothing rather than one thick layer, and when you need to go outside wear shoes with slip resistant, good grip soles
    have all gas, solid fuel and oil burning appliances (i.e. boilers, heaters, cookers) serviced by a registered engineer
    undertake energy efficiency improvements to your home or encourage your landlord to do so
    look out for older friends and neighbours, those with existing health conditions or young children
    protect water pipes from freezing by insulating them
    information about heating benefits you may be eligible for

  • How to make your 2015 New Year Resolutions stick

    As it’s the New Year, now is the time for people to consider what they want to get out of 2015 and start thinking about fresh starts, new beginnings and of course New Year’s Resolutions.

    With a suggested 88% of resolutions failing which translates to approximately 150 million resolutions every year, it is clear that your brain is not automatically wired to succeed at keeping resolutions any more than your muscles are automatically wired to succeed at running a marathon yet every year people ask their brain to perform the mental equivalent. So when you want to clear the cobwebs and start the New Year as the New You, how can you stop giving up on giving in?

    The key to success is to think of your brain like a muscle that needs fuel and rest, remind it regularly of its obligations and give it the right conditions to function at optimum. Research has shown the prefrontal cortex is responsible for willpower and like a muscle it needs feeding, exercise, repetition and rest. Here are my top tips on how to stick to your New Year’s resolutions and ensure your willpower supports your desire to make long lasting changes for the better.

    1. Make A Commitment

    The point I stress to my clients around resolution time is that to keep motivated and achieve their goals they need to make a powerful commitment and hold themselves accountable to that commitment. I compound the fact that without the right focus their good intentions will just fall down leading to unhelpful consequences. Thankfully help is at hand in the form of commitment websites which enable us to make a tangible promise to reach our goals through helpful encouragement and accountability using a Commitment Contract. One of my favourites that I recommend to clients is stickK that literally puts your money on the line if you don’t achieve your goal.

    2. Realign Your Beliefs

    If you do what you’ve always done then you will get what you’ve always got. I work with my clients to identify the limiting beliefs which hold them back from being the best version of themselves. When it comes to making a fresh start, it’s vital not to take your past into your future. Learn to let go of unhelpful thoughts and behaviours which have not served you well thus far. You may find it helpful to look at the rules or “shoulds” that have governed your personal and professional life before working on changes to your perception or approach so that you focus on helpful thoughts and positive self talk. Consider working with a life coach or mentor who can help you achieve your dreams in the fastest possible time.

    3. Money Matters

    Don’t forget to take some time out for financial planning as 8 out of 10 people last year did not plan their finances but still stated that financial stability was important to them. So whether you’re setting a savings or spending budget, creating an emergency fund, finding a way to increase clients, productivity or income, focus on the steps you need to take to make your life more financially favourable. Remember just like extreme dieting results in an inevitable binge, setting a tough budget will result in an unplanned shopping spree. Set reasonable goals and become more mindful of your spending whilst still enjoying that which life has to offer such as connection to loved ones or contribution to your community.

    4. Constant Reminders

    One of the best ways to stay focused on your resolutions is to remind yourself on a regular basis why it is important to achieve your goal and what you need to do to get there. This can be in the form of Post-It notes with motivational messages stuck strategically around the house, using an app like HassleMe to set daily or even hourly reminders, or even using a motivational photo of you looking awesome as the screensaver on your smartphone or computer. Write postcards to yourself congratulating you on how well you are doing and get your friends to send them periodically when they see your resolve might be weakening. A vision board covered in aspirational images that represent your dreams and ambitions also works very well at getting you in the right mindset to move towards that which you desire.

    5. Vocalise Your Promises

    Don’t just make promises to yourself that you can easily break behind closed doors. Share your resolutions with friends and family and promise them that you will do your best to achieve your goal. Then practise being your word so that the people in your life see you as honourable and someone whose integrity they can count on. This will not only make you look good but also bring you closer to the people you care about. Write postcards to yourself congratulating you on how well you are doing and how committed you are to your resolution and why it is so important to you. Ask your friends to send them periodically when they see your resolve might be weakening.

    Take Action

    Whichever tips and techniques you decide work best for you to stick to your resolutions, it is crucial that you take action and keep moving forward as this is exactly the advice I give clients who have struggled with change in the past. If life is a game then you need to stop being a spectator and get out on the pitch to play to win. This involves things like avoiding procrastination, putting up a year planner, setting budgets, writing lists, prioritising tasks and getting organised. It helps to set yourself realistic targets based on what can be achieved in the time you have available so break jobs down into constituent parts. Be specific so you have a clear idea of what you are working towards and track your progress rewarding yourself as you meet each target. This will keep you motivated to continue your journey towards a New You in the New Year.

  • REVIEW | Transparent

    ★★★★★ | Transparent

    After Netflix’s phenomenal success creating original content for its streaming service with two Award winning television series, now Amazon has also stepped into the area which was once the sole territory of network and cable television with the launch of Transparent its very first own series. If you haven’t caught it yet (it’s free for AMAZON PRIME subscribers) then you’re missing out as it is one of the most innovative and enjoyable family dramas that has been seen on television for years.

    It’s the story of Mort Pfefferman who has indulged and spoilt his grown-up children for years and now that he has retired he wants to share with them something that is important to him. When he asks them to gather to hear his news, they all just assume that it’s going to be something very tragic, like having terminal cancer.

    What they are not prepared to learn is that Mort is going to become Maura. This is the female who has been trapped inside him since he was a kid, and now he wants to be true to him (or rather her) self.

    The news doesn’t go over too well as these three self-absorbed siblings are all wrapped in their own lives, none of which are going too well. Sarah the oldest one feels trapped in an unhappy marriage and when Tammy her old college roommate with who she had a serious fling with shows up again, she finds an escape route.

    Jay the middle one is a successful music producer and probably the most selfish of the three. He is used to dating girls young enough to be his daughters, although that goes a little sour when one of them double crosses him at the record company where he works. He finds salvation in religion. Well to be more precise, in dating the female Rabbi. His past will catch up with him in the end as is revealed in the final episode of this first series.

    Then there is Ali the directionless brainy one who is too bright to hold down a day job so still relies on her father for handouts that she euphemistically calls ‘loans’. Her love life is equally impossible to define and when she starts dating a trans man, her brother Josh jokes that there he is now no longer the only one in his family that still likes ‘pussy’. Except his mother, but the mere thought of even contemplating his aged mother’s sex life is rather stomach turning.

    She remarried soon after divorcing Mort years ago and her ancient new husband is now fading fast. A fact that Shelly is annoyed about as not only is looking after him as his sole career a great deal of hard work, but it interferes with her own life.

    Amazon has billed this as a ‘downbeat comedy’ but what it is, in fact, is a wonderfully warm and funny series about the extraordinary journey that Maura is taking with such spirit and determination and how her choices are playing out with her family. It’s an astonishing career-defining performance from veteran actor Jeffrey Tambor who imbues the character with empathy, dignity and resilience even through the transitioning process is not always easy or comfortable. Maura may not be the most natural or charming of women, but somehow Tambor compels us to be so completely drawn to her and so wanting her to succeed.

    Great supporting cast that includes Jay Duplass, Melora Hardin, Gaby Hoffman, Kathryn Hain and Amy Landecker. However, the only other scene-stealer in the piece (besides Tambor) is veteran actor Judith Light playing the classic Jewish mother/widow to the hilt.

    The series is created and directed by Jill Soloway (Producer ‘Six Feet Under’) whose father revealed his own transitioning to her just three years ago. Although she claims that this is not at all autobiographical, she does nevertheless handle this potentially controversial subject superbly showing both remarkable insight and understanding. They were a few mumblings when the idea was initially announced that they not going to cast a transgender actor in the lead but no-one could possibly have portrayed Maura as superbly as Tambor. (Soloway did, however, make this a trans-friendly production hiring 20 in the cast and crew, and more than 60 trans men and women were employed as extras.)

    Transparent is both bold and groundbreaking and is sophisticated quality programming that is usually the Hallmark of BBC or HBO, and I cannot wait for Series 2 to arrive.

  • Coco Has Advice For You – Lose Weight And Wear Lippy

    Have you got the Sunday blues and feel like you have made poor choices in your life?

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  • This Not A Lecture About Safe Sex

    It would be easy to preach.

    At the time of writing this (late November 2014), I’m a man in my early 40’s and as of my last test roughly 3 months ago, I’m HIV negative. So well done me. Do please bear with while I heartily congratulate myself and launch into an impassioned yet slightly smug sermon about the benefits of practicing protected sex.

    Except doing that would make me a hypocrite.

    Because can I say in total honesty that every single time I’ve had penetrative sex in my life it’s always been safe? Nope, I can’t. And this includes one incident that was relatively recent. I like to think I’m well informed, God knows I know the risks and still it happened. Of course ask right now and I will say that it would be a deal breaker for me. I’ve had enough conversations insisting on condoms with potential partners in the past. Plus I seem to recall writing ”safe only” often enough on various hook up site profiles. Which is as close as one can get to going on the record.

    Hell, I even once promoted a men only club night in a straight venue and insisted on safer sex packs because I felt strongly that we should be seen to be being responsible when taking guys 5 quid entry fee on the door. One million social conscious brownie points for me right there.

    So taking that all into account, how come it still happened? Placing the blame on too much alcohol is lazy and frankly not even half the story. So why? Truth be told, we were naked and saying “Stop” to have the condom conversation felt like it would kill the moment dead. And that voice in the back of my head said that it would be okay. Just this once…

    Like I say, it would be easy to lecture. But I would be awfully naive to believe that anyone is going to go away and rethink their sexual behaviour based on anything I write here in a relatively short opinion piece. I’m no saint and certainly no expert on public health. So I am going to speak solely for myself.

    This is what I think now; I hated the fact I put myself in that position. I hated the ”Oh Sh**” feeling the next day and that heightened sense of uncertainty waiting at the drop-in clinic. Most of all I hated the fact I betrayed the memories of the friends I’ve lost, the friends we’ve all lost, through being too drunk and too needy one night. Like I’d learnt nothing.

    To repeat, I speak for no one but myself. We all have our own reasons for marking World Aids Day. For some it is a moment to mourn absent friends and lovers taken too soon. For others it is anger and activism that drives them. We have all read plenty this past year of how there remain far too many parts of the world where the basic human rights of the LGBT community are being eroded to a point of non existence. In the case of our brothers and sisters who are HIV positive, the situation is even more desperate.

    Hell, you can even make a case that a few show up at the vigils to check out cute boys looking sad.

    But whatever the reason, we are there every 1st December in our thousands. And I know why I’m there. It’s a show of love, grief and respect for those that walked before me and fell along the way. And for those who still live every day with the shadow of HIV hovering just in sight.

    And after a couple of moments of stupidity, relief. Pure, simple, selfish, relief.

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

  • Popstarz Closes The Doors For The Final Time

    The gay scene in London was forever changed with the introduction of Popstarz in 1995. Now nearly twenty years later the alternative gay night life brand is being put to bed.

    In an interview with PinkNews.co.uk, head DJ and promoter Tommy Turntables lamented the ever decreasing gay scene in London saying, ‘the G-A-Y brand doest appeal to every gay person, in fact I’d say it doesn’t appeal to the majority of gay people, but there’s always new interesting things happening, a lot happens out East, you just have to dig for it more these days.’

    The Popstarz night was the brainchild of Simon Hobart, who died nearly 10 years ago. When asked what Simon’s legacy would be, Tommy said, ‘His legacy will be showing the gay scene that not everything has to be the same, cut from the same cloth, that there is brilliance in our differences.’

    Advance tickets have sold out, but there will be 400 £20 tickets available at the Coronet on New Kent Road, London from 10pm tonight.

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