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  • Top UK Judge Calls For Conscience Clause For Christians With Anti-Gay Beliefs

    A Judge who originally threw out the Christian B&B couples’ attempts to overturn a ruling that said they could not discriminate against gay couples has had a rethink and dropped all legal costs.

    Supreme Court deputy president Baroness Hale has ordered that all legal costs faced by Peter and Hazelmary Bull be dropped, after the couple’s final attempt at an appeal was thrown out of court, in a highly unusual move, which could save the hoteliers thousands of pounds.

    According to the Bristol Post Baroness Hale has called for ‘a re-think on gay and religious rights more than six months after she refused hoteliers Peter and Hazelmary Bull’s final appeal.’ The B&B owners had made several attempts to have the ruling overturned.

    Mr and Mrs Ball turned away gay couple Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy in 2008, citing religious beliefs for the reason why the two men couldn’t share a room. Mr Hall and Mr Preddy then took the Bulls to court in a high-profile court case, which the civilly partnered couple won. The Bulls were ordered to pay £3600 in damages to Mr Hall and Mr Preddy.

    Baroness Hale said that she may have been wrong in condemning the couple and that the law should work on a “conscience clause” for Christians in cases like the Bulls.

    In 2013, Baroness Hale was named as the fourth most powerful woman in the UK in BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour 100 Power List.

    On the Hotel’s website the Bulls state,

    ‘Here at Chymorvah we have few rules, but please note that as Christians we have a deep regard for marriage (being the union of one man to one woman for life to the exclusion of all others).

    ‘Therefore, although we extend to all a warm welcome to our home, our double bedded accommodation is not available to unmarried couples. Thank you.’

  • REVIEW | Limbo, London Wonderground

    ★★★★★ | Limbo, London Wonderground

    Witness heart-stopping illusions, mind-bending manoeuvres, breath taking dance moves and thrilling live music from a coterie of highly skilled international performers. A summer celebration of otherworldly proportions: welcome to the greatest party ever between heaven and hell.

    If you’re expecting light circus tricks with cheesy grins and fluffy plinky-plonky music then you’re going to be disappointed. Instead you get sweaty muscled bodies, sinister tunes and tongue in cheek dark high camp. Expect to be on the edge of your seat, gasping in shock and feeling slightly frisky as you witness some beautiful people doing some death defying stunts. Sword swallowing, balancing acts, contortionism and aerial displays may be old hat but not when they’re performed with such panache and verve that there’s a whole new spin on it.

    The choreography is superb, the tone hits the right pitch and the atmosphere is electric. I’m not normally a person who gets carried away with the moment (inner monologue and intrusive thoughts: think Woody Allen but more camp) but this is a spectacle that drags you along with it and you wonder how the time went so quickly. Plus, you get to sit inside the gorgeous Spiegeltent on the Southbank; once home to legends like Dietrich, Coward and Garland.

    This pumping, dirty, beast of a show is a must see. Did I mention that the boys are gorgeous?

    Limbo runs until the 17th of August

  • Show That Explores Animal Sexuality Accused Of Gay Bestiality Propaganda

    A show which compares human sexuality and that of animals has been accused of being ‘Gay Bestiality Propaganda’

    The petition, which was created by George Gilbert, has been signed by over 1000 people who are against a play that is currently showing at The Kings Head theatre in London.

    The show aims to compare human’s sexuality with that of animals.

    The opening statement of the petition reads, ‘As the name of the play ‘Sex with animals’ suggests, it is absolutely horrifying and disgusting that the play of this name has been staged in the name of exploration of animal sexuality. By signing this petition we oppose abuse and sexual exploitation of animals suggested by this play which is already implied in the name of the play. We also oppose all propaganda suggesting or encouraging abuse and sexual exploitation of animals by this play, otherwise termed as bestiality or zoophilia.’

    Gilbert is asking petitioners to agree with the following statement: ‘Therefore this group of men with homosexual and bestiality tendencies needs to be identified and along with dramaturg, producer, director, and all the creative cast should be publicly challenged and hold accountable for:

    1. Staging a play with potential for suggesting animal abuse – bestiality propaganda (Direct/indirect message is there, if some others entirely subliminal.)
    2. Thematic consequences of the play.
    3. Getting credits and blame for what the play does and does not.
    4. The name of the play which may distorts the nature of the play, if this is the case.
    5. Rationality of the play and expected implications in a viewer’s life. (Provide a scientific evidence on which the play is based).
    Further we are asking all responsible for the play to:
    6. Present shared belief on abuse and sexual exploitation of the animals – from dramaturg, producer and playwright of the play especially, to all the creative cast.
    7. Publicly clarify their own sexual preferences since they appear to advocate what seems to be ‘sex with animals’ – gay bestiality propaganda
    Lastly, we are calling on launching an investigation into whether any animals in their personal care are in danger of abuse or sexual exploitation.’

  • July 2014

    July 2014

    © TheGayUK - Issue 4
    © TheGayUK – Issue 4

     

    Inside Issue 4

    Laverne Cox, Alexis Houston, Ricky Gervais, Cody Simpson, John Krokidas and much more… PLUS: Exclusive swimwear shoot, Lessons from Auschwitz, Drag Queens of London, 10 ways to spice up a one night stand, Feel the sLOVEnia, news, reviews, lifestyle and advice. CAUTION: Hot summer content. We’ve filled this swimwear special to brink of stretching, so grab an ice pop, a hand fan and enjoy responsibly.

  • Sexual health charity releases video urging condom use

    HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has launched a short video clip for gay and bisexual men, outlining the risks of recent infection – the initial period after HIV is contracted, when a person is super-infectious but won’t yet know they have the virus – and urging men to use condoms with new or casual partners.

    The 1:30 clip ‘Ben and Will’, which can be viewed at www.tht.org.uk/BenandWill, has been released as part of It Starts With Me, the flagship campaign from Terrence Higgins Trust and HIV Prevention England (HPE). It demonstrates how men who have recently contracted HIV are often unaware of their status, and – if they have contracted HIV within the last six weeks or so – will have such a high level of the virus in their body, they will be more infectious than at any point afterwards. Among gay men, as many as eight out of ten HIV transmissions are passed on by a partner who doesn’t know he has it.

    Cary James, Head of Health Improvement at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “Too many guys are deciding not to use a condom because they believe they or their partner are HIV-negative. It’s called serosorting, but really it should be called seroguessing. If either guy has had unprotected sex since his last negative result, he could not only have picked up HIV but now be super-infectious. As tests often won’t detect HIV during these first few weeks either, it’s really important men protect themselves by continuing to use condoms.”

    In the UK, one in five gay and bisexual men with HIV remain undiagnosed, meaning there are currently more than 7,000 men in the UK’s gay community who have HIV but don’t know it. It Starts With Me focuses on a combination approach of condoms, testing and treatment to halt the spread of infection among the gay community. Using condoms and lube when having anal sex significantly reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, being passed on.
    HIV Prevention England is a partnership of community organisations headed by Terrence Higgins Trust and funded by the Department of Health to carry out national HIV prevention work in England among communities at an increased risk of infection.

    Gay and bisexual men are invited to sign up to It Starts With Me by visiting www.startswithme.org.uk . They can also join the conversation on social media at www.facebook.com/startswithme

  • FILM REVIEW | Blood Brother

    ★★★★★ | Blood Brother

    This is one of those real life stories that you come across now and again that re-affirm your faith in the goodness of (some) human beings. Rocky Braat’s story is especially moving and relates how one very ordinary and regular young American man, who is exceptionally unselfish and wonderfully generous, made a real difference to the lives of many children that society would like to forget.

    Rocky grew up in Pittsburgh with a drug addict mother who had a whole string of abusive boyfriends and as he struggled academically at school they put him in special ed classes. He is however far from stupid and graduated from design college, and got a good job on a magazine. After a while he got the travel bug and quit his job and went off to see the world and ‘find himself’.

    His chosen destination was India, and one day on a whim he went to see an AIDS orphanage in Chennai. He thought that the visit would be tough seeing the kids suffering, and it was indeed and he found himself crying a lot, but he still felt compelled to stay there for one whole month. When he resumed his journey he couldn’t get the kids out of his mind, because despite all their troubles, they found such joy in living, so he immediately turned around and went back.

    He stayed the rest of the summer, and when it was time to go back to the US, he promised the kids he would return in one year, and he did.

    This movie, shot by Steve Hoover, Rocky’s childhood friend tells of the next few years of how this remarkable man with no real qualifications at all, and with no official paid position lives there in the orphanage and became an amateur dentist, teacher, clown, carer, friend and father to all these abandoned children who absolutely adored him. He lives in a rat infested hovel, exists on a daily diet of rice, and has to keep leaving the country because of visa problems.

    It is a highly emotional story (there wasn’t a dry eye in the house even with the cynical Sundance audience I watched it with) as we live through all the many traumas the kids and Rocky endure. Kids get very sick and some die as they can only have access to the very basic of AIDS drugs, and Rocky Anna (as the kids call him) is there every inch of the way. What is so endearing that Rocky, unlike a professional AIDS worker, is never ever detached from any of the happenings and gets totally distraught and frustrated at times and often cries.

    The fact that he is there and chosen to remain with the kids is simply explained as that’s what he wants to do. There are no lofty claims that he is doing God’s calling (or anyone else’s for that matter) or for any religious conviction or any other profound reason. This is where he wants to be, and he certainly is making an enormous difference to all these children’s lives.

    I am totally in awe of the man, and it was interesting too that as Steve Hoover witnessed and filmed Rocky insitu over the years he grew to understand and appreciate why his friend is so committed to the kids and the country itself. However, there is a lighter note to the story too, because just as Rocky ‘finds himself’, he also finds a beautiful Indian bride to marry.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Last Of The Duty Free

    ★★ | Last Of The Duty Free

    Following on from the popular TV series of the 1980’s, Last Of The Duty Free see’s David and Linda having both pulled the wool over their respective partners eyes and reunite at the hotel in Spain where they began their love affair all those years before. But with Robert and Amy both arriving at the resort, suspicious of their cheating spouses, an interfering newly married couple managing to get the wrong end of the stick with every situation they observe and Carlos the waiter still struggling with his sore feet, the scene is set for more romance, confusion and narrow escapes as David and Linda try to reignite their passions.

    The show reunites three of the four main actors from the original show; Keith Barron, Gwen Taylor and Neil Stacey all revive their TV roles, with Carol Royle joining them as Linda. The cast appeared to have slipped comfortably back into their old roles, with them all giving very natural performances.

    Written by Eric Chappell, who co-wrote the original series, the humour was gentle and subtle, generating chuckles, rather than belly laughs. The comedy was very non offensive, and played on comedy staples such as mistaken identity, near misses, misunderstandings over unrequited desires and battles of both wits and the sexes. In its style, the piece was very traditional and in perfect keeping with the original TV series and in a similar vein to other comedy series written by Chappell, such as Only When I Laugh and Rising Damp. The story was suitably simple and undemanding; allowing the audience to be transported back to their living rooms of the 80’s to watch the TV sitcom unfold live on stage. The play, thankfully, didn’t try to update itself and cram in numerous references to its modern day setting, remaining faithful to its roots, with only the briefest mention of mobile phones.

    The set was static and did have an essence of the purpose built hotel complexes associated with inexpensive package holidays, and the brief interludes of Spanish guitar music generated a holiday feel. Both the direction and the lighting were functional and the sound clear and audible.

    The Last of the Duty Free is curious a show. Whether you enjoy this play will depend largely on whether you enjoyed the original TV series and the classic sitcoms of the 1980’s. The play is unlikely to win over many new fans, and you do have to wonder why the show is revived 28 years after it ended its highly successful TV run. The play may be described as dated by some in terms of both its setting or writing, but equally, could be described as nostalgic by others, harking back to a style of inoffensive comedy and a more established style of conventional comedy writing.

    Last of the Duty Free is currently playing at the Sheffield Lyceum until Saturday 21st June 2014 before rounding off its national tour.

  • OPINION | Selective Love

    2014 has been remarkably record-breaking for the LGBT+ community. However, our strength unsettles certain masses. These seem to be the oldest offenders… The Religious. Are they clutching at straws in order to try and demonise homosexual presence?

    The huge advantage of the, almost, daily technology advancement in the world, is that we witness the most outrageous stories and news that forces us to stop our phone screens, dead in their tracks. In between a ‘Tag a mate’ photo and a funny-as-hell ‘eGreeting’, you will observe, for instance, extremist pastors unashamedly brainwashing communities, whose kids are forced to hold placards that write: “God Hates Fag Enablers”; “Homosexuality is Sin. Christ Can Set You Free”; or the eerie: “Fags Die God Laughs”.

    Are some churches or religious collectives scared that their foundations are crumbling; which are leading them to extreme actions having to justify their own existence?

    If we travel down to Uganda, pastor Martin Ssempa goes so far as corrupting citizens minds, again particularly with children, on how gay men have sex. He destroys the image of two men being able to love one another and replaces it with the illustration of content that ignorantly suggests gay men have sex via way of “Eat Da Poo Poo”, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjnrLt3VuSM,

    According to this monster, gay men ‘lick poo like ice cream’, and they need to take drugs in order to be able to endure the agony of performing the act of ‘fisting’. It is anger-summoning as well as pitiful, that men like these are lurking in schools and community halls, spreading such innocuous untruths.

    These extremists are polluting the mind of children, at an early age, planting the seed of gay hate. Sometimes the harshest culprits are parents, whose ignorance destroys lives of children.

    Fortunately, in America, there is a heart-warming story of a boy named Zach who, bravely came out, on Facebook, to his friends. His mother saw it and wrote the most touching letter:

    “Zach,
    I was surprised by your Facebook post where you came out. I want you to know that I love you unconditionally. I love you with my actions, not just my words. I’m so proud of you. You are the bravest person I know. I’ll fight for you always. Your sexual orientation does not define you. You are still the boy who forever won my heart. The only thing that concerns me is the number of empty soda cups and tea bottles in your room. Throw them away before ants come inside.

    I love you always –
    Mom”
    (http://www.upworthy.com/a-boy-came-out-on-facebook-his-mother-found-out-and-decided-to-write-him-this-letter)

    Zach needs not to worry any longer with such unconditional love and support being shown in his home. In fact, the only worry he has is getting ‘ants in his pants’, it appears.

    Bringing it back to some sadder news: Some of these bigots are going as far as travelling to other countries/continents to spread this hate. However, this is where our strength is surely noticed.

    There is an American pastor called Lou Engle, whose infamy for anti-gay campaigns echoes the globe. His religious ideology is so extremist; it elevates Uganda’s atrocious homosexuality view on to a high pedestal. He believes that the Ugandan Church is a Divine prophesy that should be worshipped and forced upon.

    Engle had plans to fly from America to Geneva to attend an event called TheCall which aimed at titling Geneva as the ‘city of righteous influence’, via way of fasting, prayer and purification of the mind, as this, he claims, is what God wants for humanity; this is, of course, another way of brainwashing people in to adopting his controversial beliefs. He wanted to spread his repressive idealism to this city. I use the past tense for a reason.

    Thanks to AllOut and the LGBT+ supporters coming together and protesting, Lou Engle pulled out of the event, and cancelled the visit, altogether. We are acquiring a relentless strength and courage, as well as shaking ancient pedagogies by standing up and fighting back.

    There may be fewer of us, but together our love and compassion will overthrow hate. Religious preaching is guilty of the biggest irony of them all.

    Selective Love.

    By this I mean, humans can let themselves be influenced by ideologies, such as the need for love and acceptance for one another, yet to these same people it appears normal to stone, imprison, humiliate or kill a person for loving someone of the same sex?

    Correct me if I am wrong, but does it not say in the Bible: Mark 12:31: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”?

     

    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.

  • COLUMN | Beware The Man Of Mystery

    Is a man of mystery sexy? Or is there something a little bit more sinister going on behind his smoky allure? You may ask or question if mystery is still even achievable with pretty much our life stories being available via a bit of Google and Facebook detective work. But the kind of mystery that I am typing about is that which belongs to a person who face-to-face only gives you glimpses into their soul and small pieces of a puzzle. You may never get all the pieces of the puzzle, and if you do, the final picture will look like a poor man’s Picasso.

    Beware the man of mystery. Mr. Mysterious may strike you as intriguing, challenging, perhaps described by others as a tough nut to crack. So if you find that you are beginning to lose yourself in his eyes, and are interested in knowing more about him, then just be careful how much of yourself you are trading in return for their portion regulated control. Every piece of information divulged is surely to be orchestrated and rehearsed. A man who feels at home basking in the air of others uncertainty and gets off on thinking about you thinking about him, is usually the dullest person you will ever encounter. I’m sure that description has just brought someone you know, or have known, forward in your mind.

    Mystery is not to be confused with one being shy either. A shy guy will seem socially uncomfortable, perhaps not overly keen on too much eye contact etc. Mr Mysterious, will be quite comfortable in kicking back and resting his feet waiting for you to flock and delve into a conversation with him. Mr Mysterious will maintain eye contact and control any silence in conversation making your brain do the overtime and make you do all the effort. Essentially he cannot be bothered and is used to having things and people served to him on a platter for his perusal.

    Mystery is created, because they don’t actually know who they are or have a lot to say about themselves. They are more likely to speak about the present and what is happening in the now. When speaking about the future it is usually sprayed with a rainbow neon finish creating an exciting, colourful, and idyllic end goal. The past is glazed over like it never even happened and you’re likely to only ever see pinholes of childhood and “previous life”. This allows you to imagine, create, fantasise about who they could be, which immediately makes them seem more interesting than what they actually are.

    This man may appear emotionally like a broken bird. Do NOT feed the birds. It is you who will end up broken in your quest to fix them, should your nature be of the “fixing” kind, like mine. Although I am sure you had already come to the conclusion that I speak here from personal experience.

    The idea of mystery sounds great to begin with, and has always been bigged up by romantics; mysterious eyes, tall / dark / handsome etc. What even are mysterious eyes? What would they look like? To define mysterious in the dictionary, it reads; “difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify”. So it would seem that the word mysterious may be used in place of a more creative description that escapes the person paying the “compliment”. Not so sassy. I will literally puke or punch if I’m told I have mysterious eyes. Alternatively, awkwardly challenge them on their choice of words. It’s unlike me to not just sit back and lap up a “compliment”- but for me this expression is an absolute compliment / conversational sin.

    Perhaps we perceive mysterious eyes as an attractive attribute, as eyes are commonly linked to the soul, and if they are perceived as mysterious – then it means we are protected, and hidden away from open fire. In our open book society, we may tend to latch onto anything that would suggest we are akin to an enigma or the unknown.

    In reality all mystery is, is withheld simple, straightforward information that isn’t very significant at all if it were to be said normally. But the fact that you cannot get to the information makes it seem much bigger than what it really is. When simple information isn’t shared with us we then start to build a complex about what other information may be withheld, which does not set a great footprint for the beginning of any friendship or relationship.

    I suppose I personally am at a time in my life where I want life to be as straightforward as it possibly can be. I do want to settle down, and have adopted a zero-tolerance regime when it comes to a time waster. The problem I have with “mysterious men” is that there is never really a commitment from that person. They keep their options open just in case something better comes their way but will use you to their advantage in the run up to the inevitable demise. By never revealing themselves wholly they remain guarded and detached.

    And actually, I no longer have the time to try and crack these tough nuts, it is boring. You either want to share that information and yourself with me, or you do not. The great Oscar Wilde once said, “the true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible”. Life can actually be very simple if we allow it to be. This is why Mr Mysterious, is not for me.

  • Gay porn star, Cameron Fox dies aged 36

    Falcon Studios have announced that US porn actor Cameron Fox has died.

    At the age of 36, Cameron Fox (real name Shane Eugene) performed in close to 50 adult films. Falcon took to Twitter to announce the news writing, ‘RIP Cameron Fox.’

    Fox started in the industry at the age of 22 in 1999. He was originally from Tulsa, Texas.

    His personal quote according to IMDB was ‘It’s good to be able to do things with other fellas and get great cash. I didn’t have to go to school to learn how to bring lust on the screen. It’s all a matter of doing it, ’cause I choose to.’

    The cause of death has not yet been released.

  • Adam Lambert Speaks Sexuality And Sam Smith

    Openly gay singer Adam Lambert has talked about the differences between his and UK chart topper Sam Smith’s coming out.

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