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  • Telecoms Giant Orange Pulls Adverts From Anti-Gay Ugandan Tabloid

    A subsidiary of telecoms giant Orange has pulled advertising from Red Pepper, a tabloid newspaper in Uganda.

    It has been reported that a subsidiary of Orange has pulled its advertising from Red Pepper, a tabloid which controversially published a list of ‘Uganda’s 200 top homos’ in Uganda – after new laws which make homosexual acts illegal were introduced in February.

    Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed the law in February 2014

    Red Pepper came under heavy international criticism after publishing a list of known homosexuals calling for them to be hunted down.

    Over 77,000 signatures were collected on a petitioning site. Orange announced the cut with Red Pepper via Twitter

    “We commend Orange for their leadership in reaction to the Anti-Homosexuality Law” said Andre Banks, Executive Director and co-founder of All Out, an international organization building the global movement for gay rights.

    “Orange’s decision to withdraw their advertising and to explicitly support their LGBT employees should ring alarm bells for Ugandan politicians and business people about the impact this law could have on the national economy”.

    The anti-homosexual law states:

    Life imprisonment for gay sex, including oral sex
    Life imprisonment for “aggravated homosexuality”, including sex with a minor or while HIV-positive
    Life imprisonment for living in a same-sex marriage
    Seven years for “attempting to commit homosexuality”
    Between five and seven years in jail or a $40,700 (£24,500) fine or both for the promotion of homosexuality
    Businesses or non-governmental organisations found guilty of the promotion of homosexuality would have their certificates of registration cancelled and directors could face seven years in jail.

  • Man celebrates amazing 13 STONE weight loss

    A gay man from Manchester is celebrating a whopping 13 stone in weight loss after pioneering surgery.

    • At his heaviest Gareth weighed 30 STONE
    • Tried surviving on PEANUT BUTTER and MILKSHAKES diets
    • Lost 13 stone with gastric bypass

    Gareth Roberts, 36, is celebrating with his partner after managing to lose over 13 stones in weight after undergoing a gastric bypass.

    Gareth, who grew up in Wythenshawe, Manchester, but now lives in Baroda, an Indian city between Mumbai and Delhi, said: “The surgery has completely changed my life for the better and opened up so many new things to me.

    “My partner Marco is an engineer who had the opportunity to go and work in India – before the operation, I never would have had the confidence to even contemplate going to live over there. But now we are enjoying a whole new life together there.”

    The 36-year-old added: “Health-wise I knew it was only a matter of time before my weight started to catch up with me.

    “I already had raised blood pressure and my weight was affecting my mobility as well as putting strain on my joints – I knew it wasn’t going to be long before things got worse. But now I am feeling fitter and more active than I ever have in my life.”

    Gareth underwent his procedure in 2011 at Spire Manchester in Whalley Range, one of five hospitals which make up the Spire Weight Loss Surgery (SWLS) specialist bariatric surgery network.

    Gareth had struggled with his weight since childhood, and admits over the years the problem had escalated to the point where he had lost control over what and how much he was eating.
    He said: “I used to live in an open plan apartment and I’d be sitting in the living room, next to the kitchen, and almost hear the food calling to me in my head. If I knew there was a multi-pack of crisps in the cupboard you could guarantee they’d be gone by the end of the night.”

    Over the past 20 years he had made numerous attempts to shed the excess pounds in all manner of different ways, surviving on diets consisting of everything from milkshakes to peanut butter.
    He did once lost five stone through a slimming club but would always end up piling the weight back on, and more.

    Gareth remembered: “There would be a sense of camaraderie at the clubs, but you’d often also encourage each other to be bad. You’d congratulate each other on being good all week and losing 3lbs so then you’d tell yourself you deserved a treat that night – and put on all that you’d lost again anyway.”
    The former manager in social care, who now volunteers with a charity in India, said the bypass procedure carried out by Mr Alan Li, one of Spire Weight Loss Surgery’s expert surgeons, was now giving him confidence with food for the first time since he was a child.

    “This is one of the major benefits for me,” Gareth said.

    “The surgery has given me a tool to not only lose the weight, but to alleviate the fear that always lived in me whenever I lost some weight that I was going to pile it all back on again. Having the operation is a life-changing decision, but it brings life-changing results.”

    He praised Spire Weight Loss Surgery and its team of specialist nurses, expert surgeons and helpful dieticians for their advice and support over the past two years.

    “I had such a positive experience with Spire Weight Loss Surgery – they were so supportive from the very start and still are today, two years on. I’ve always felt like they were there for you and you could ask them anything. It’s a very friendly, nurturing environment.”

    And he said he was feeling the difference in all areas of his life.
    Gareth said: “I can actually move and breathe now – I can run up the stairs without gasping for breath!

    “My partner is quite active – he enjoys things like mountain hiking and going on roller coasters which I just couldn’t physically do before because of my size. I was missing out on so many things – you try to pretend it doesn’t matter, but it does.

    “That’s not me any more. I’m so much physically fitter – after all I’m no longer dragging another person around with me! I enjoy swimming and walking and I work out at the gym. I’m also happy to fly back regularly to Manchester to visit friends and family on my own – something I would have dreaded before I lost the weight.

    “After years of dieting, I finally feel like I’ve got control back over food and over my life.”

    For more information about Spire Weight Loss Surgery, please call 0800 142 2200 or email weightloss@spirehealthcare.com or go to www.spirewlsurgery.com.

  • TOWIE’s Dan Osborne Shows Flesh

    If you’re a lover of Dan Osborne, you’re going to love these.

    OMG and all that good stuff… Dan Osborne has stripped off (again) but we’re not complaining. He’s showing his rather above average assets

    Dan is currently starring in the new series of TOWIE on ITV2.

  • Tom Daley Goes Global For ITV2

    Heartthrob and all round nice guy Tom Daley is going Global

    Tom Daley, the man who is stealing the hearts of gay men around the world is going global – more so. ITV2 have just released its first picture of the new show, which stars the Olympic diver.

    Cameras will follow Tom and his best friend Sophie as they kiss their families goodbye, pack their bags and head for the wilds of some of the most incredible countries on earth such as Thailand, Japan, Australia, Morocco and New Zealand.

    The trip will be a life-changing experience that will see Tom as he’s never been seen before- roughing it in hostels, sleeping on night trains and making new friends as he takes in everything typical of a student-backpacking trip in just six weeks.

    Tom said:

    I can’t wait to get away on my trip. Diving and training are my first love, but I am looking forward to a break from the norm and discovering more about places I’ve never had the chance to explore before. And to do it all with my best friend will be amazing.

  • 50 People Stood By And Watched Anti-Gay Attack in NYC

    New York gay couple attacked in front of 50 people and nobody intervened.

    A gay couple who were celebrating their 10 year anniversary in New York were attacked in front of 50 people and not one person intervened.

    J.P. Masterson and Peter Moore were set upon by a man who hurled anti-gay abuse at them before punching Masterson in his face.

    Masterson said to the CBS:

    ‘I couldn’t believe that in this day and age in the Village, which is where I came out and where I felt most accepted, now I have to be on edge.’

    Masterson was treated at the Lenox Hill Hospital. He suffered a broken nose, a fractured orbital bone and a cut above the eye that required stitches.

    The New York Police Dept. has released a sketch of the man the couple say attacked them.

    According to the New York Times 50 New Yorkers stood by as Masterson was beaten.

    “Police describe the suspect as a white male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs around 170 pounds and is in his late 20s. He may also have a thick Polish accent,” NJ.com reports

    Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 800-577-TIPS, visit NYCCrimestoppers, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Westend Fest, The Actors’ Church

    ★★★★ | Westend Fest, The Actors’ Church
    The West End was treated last Sunday evening to not one but two glittering charity fundraisers. I opted to visit the always-fun WestEnd Fest, held at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden over the larger and more-publicised West End Unites event at the Lyric.

    With a line-up consisting of many of the West End’s best-loved names, WestEnd Fest is an evening of song, dance and lots of laughter organised by actress Sabrina Aloueche and musician Richard Parnell Page. This show’s theme, “Songs you love… BUT SHOULDN’T!” paved the way for these West-Enders to belt out some of their favourite pop tunes.

    I was struck, initially, by just how perfect a venue St Paul’s Church is for a celebration of all that the West End has to offer. This peaceful haven, in the very heart of Covent Garden, is known as The Actors’ Church, and is a perfect setting for the evening of heavenly pleasures we witnessed.

    David Ribi and Rosie Ladkin opened the show with a tribute to that guiltiest of pleasures, High School Musical. The evening continued in much the same vein, with songs from various musicals including Frozen, The Little Mermaid, The Jungle Book and Love Never Dies, as well as tributes to Maria Mackee, Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne, Justin Timberlake, and Belinda Carlisle with Justin Bieber (an unlikely pairing, admittedly, but one that Rob Houchen somehow made work in his inventive and original arrangement).

    David Ribi also closed the evening as part of WestEnd Fest’s very own boyband, Wrong Direction. Known for being a member of top One Direction tribute act Only One Direction as well as his numerous acting and presenting credits, he was perfectly at home in such an environment and this shone through in his performance.

    The performers were simply too numerous to critique each one, but each sang to their strengths, and clearly enjoyed the opportunity to perform their best-loved guilty pleasures. Extra-special mentions, however, must be given to Rebecca Caine, Aaron Sidwell, Tori Allen Martin, Lauren Samuels, Kieran Brown and WestEnd Fest’s co-founder, Sabrina Aloueche for making my spine tingle with their outstanding performances.

    The evening also showcased a selection of songs from two new musicals which are both worth watching out for. ‘The Mill on The Floss’ is a catchy production of George Eliot’s tragic story of the battle between morality and desire; while ‘Twenty Seven’ is a new story with a superbly emotional score, performed with gusto by the supremely talented Ross William Wild and other members of its excellent cast.

    WestEnd Fest is a bi-annual fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and CRY UK, a children’s cardiac arrest charity. Based on the quality of last Sunday’s show, I urge you to buy tickets as soon as the next one is announced.

    Follow @WestEndFests on Twitter or ‘Like’ their Facebook page to be the first to hear when tickets go on sale.

  • Grease Has The X Factor

    X-Factor finalist Jade Ellis will perform at a special Gala performance of GREASE the musical, held at the Arts Deport, Finchley.

    GREASE will be a high octane production of the much-loved classic directed by actress Amanda Noar, and takes place from Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd March.

    Jade Ellis has attended rehearsals and will sing at the special Gala performance on Thursday 20th March, supporting Impact Theatre Company and its chosen charities, Future Dreams and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The Mayor of Hertsmere will also be in attendance.

    IMPACT is a creative, contemporary theatre company run by Amanda Noar, now in its 18th year. The company, based in Finchley, is made up of amateurs, drama students and professionals from all over London. IMPACT’s patron, Neil Morrissey, Amanda’s ex-husband, donates his time for fundraising events and often attends rehearsals to offer encouragement and professional advice. He will also be attending the Gala performance.

    Jade Ellis came into the public eye as a finalist in The X-Factor, mentored by Tulisa Contostavlos. During her time on the series she gained a reputation for powerful vocal renditions and her determination to succeed.

    GREASE plays 19-22 March at the Finchley Arts Depot. Tickets are £20 (£15 conc) for 19th, 21st and 22nd March and £25 (£20 conc) for the Gala performance on Thursday 20th from www.impacttheatre.org.uk

  • British Men Aren’t Happy About Gay Dads

    New research has shown that nearly half of British men aren’t happy about two men being fathers.

    • 47% of men disagree that a gay male couple can do as good a job bringing up children as a man and a woman
    •  70% of women think that two gay males would do a good job.

    New analysis of the British Social Attitudes survey published by NatCen Social Research during gay adoption week reveals that men take a more conservative stance on gay adoption and parenting. 47% of men do not think that a same sex male couple can bring children up as well as male-female couples, while just 30% of women do.

    When it comes to lesbian partners raising children, views are softer, but a gender gap remains; 42% of men doubt same sex female couples’ ability to raise children, in comparison to 27% of women. Men are also more likely to differentiate between gay male and lesbian couples.

    Overall, 35% of all Brits say that lesbian couples cannot bring up children as well as male-female couples, in comparison to 39% of those who doubt gay male couples’ ability.

    Public increasingly open-minded

    Just under half (49%) of Brits agree that gay couples should be allowed to adopt while 44% say that they should not. This represents dramatic change on thirty years ago; in 1983, 8% of the population agreed with gay adoption, while 87% disagreed.

    The analysis also shows strong generational trends, with older people far more likely to be concerned about same sex couples bringing up children:

    • 20% of 17-34 year olds think that same sex male couples can’t bring up children as well as opposite sex couples, in comparison to 57% of the over-55s;
    • · 17% of 17-34 year olds think that lesbian couples can’t bring up children as well as couples of the opposite sex, in comparison to 50% of the over-55s.

    Penny Young, Chief Executive of NatCen Social Research commented:

    “This research shows just how much things have changed, but also that among a large minority traditional perceptions of families remain intact. Although campaigners may well be disheartened by just how much this issue continues to divide the public, there are certainly positives for them to take from this research – the vast generational differences suggest a view on its way out.”

  • FILM REVIEW: The Adored

    FILM REVIEW: The Adored

    ★★ | The Adored

    Maia is a model who finds her life in turmoil when a personal tragedy befalls her which severely impacts on her relationship with her husband.In an attempt to increase her self-esteem and to try and kick-start her career, she books a weekend with a prolific photographer, Francesca, in her secluded house in the remote Welsh countryside. But Francesca, who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder, becomes increasingly fixated with Maia and tries to control her feelings towards her. But with a combination of guilt, paranoia and infatuation increasingly impacting on the relationship between the two of them, their past appears to be catching up with them.

    The film stars Laura Martin-Simpson and Ione Butler as the two women whose physical and emotional relationship develops over the course of the film’s 90 minute running time. The story unfolds with long scenes of the two women in the isolated house and surrounding area spliced with some rather intense scenes of a man called Adrian talking frankly with his therapist about his self-awareness of his violence and his troubled marriage. Who this man is and his relevance to the two women is a mystery which feeds into the slow burn of the story.

    The performances from the four cast members were all perfectly serviceable, with Jake Maskill as Adrian as the most notable. The direction of the film was functional, but never flashy or over-stylised and the scenery surrounding the house was a naturally beautiful backdrop.

    One of the main problems with the film was that the characters were all so unlikeable that as a viewer, there was the potential to not share any empathy or connection with characters. Furthermore, the development of the story was far too slow, so that by the time the reveal arrived, any dramatic impact was lost given that the narrative had struggled to hold the attention.

    Where the film does deserve some recognition is in its portrayal of the exploration of the female characters sexuality. Their intimate moment manages to steer well clear of tacky titillation and that aspect of the story is more about establishing their sexuality as one aspect of their complex characters rather than being the trait that their characters are built around.

    Overall, the film is a slow watch, which some viewers may find rewarding, but one which, unfortunately, runs out of steam. It is a bold attempt at a low budget film noir, but never quite lives up to its potential.

    The Adored is available to buy from Amazon and iTunes and further information about the film can be found on the films official website at http://www.theadoredmovie.com

     

  • BBC 3 to close

    The BBC has announced that BBC 3 is to be shut in order to save money.

    The service is to be moved to the iPlayer. The channel is being shut for cost cutting measures. Its costs will be reduced from £90m to £25m and the channel is set to stop broadcasting in 2015.

    The digital television channel first broadcast in 2003 and is targeted towards 16-34 years and has been home to hit TV series such as Ja’mie Private School Girl, Gavin and Stacey, Family Guy and Torchwood which starred John Barrowman.

    On average 9 million people tune into BBC 3 each week.

    A number of celebrities have come forward to show their support for BBC 3 and a Twitter hashtag #SaveBBC3 has been trending for two days in the United Kingdom.

  • No Justin Bieber Peen Pictures – Just Yet

    Yes the internet has been a tiz today as pictures of Justin’s nips and tattoos spread like wildfire, but you won’t be seeing any of Justin’s penis when Miami’s best releases footage of Bieb’s urine test. (more…)

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