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Tag: Explainer

All the latest Explainers.

  • What does the Red Ribbon used for World AIDS Day mean?

    What does the Red Ribbon used for World AIDS Day mean?

    Every year on the 1st of December many people start wearing a red ribbon for World AIDS Day, but what does it mean and who designed it?

    Why is the Red Ribbon used for World AIDS Day and who designed it?
    ArtsyBee / Pixabay

    The Red Ribbon symbol has become the defining icon for the awareness, fundraising and determination to beat HIV and AIDS. It is a strong vibrant red symbol that has become synonymous with every 1st December and it 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 the 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.

    Signify Awareness and Support

    OpenClipart-Vectors / Pixabay

    In our interview with David France, director of How to Survive A Plague told us,  “In one of the worst moments we ever faced we rose above it. We took care of each other. It was extraordinary and beautiful”.

    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 at 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.”

    At handmade ribbons where distributed in New York

    Back in 1991 a group of artists created the red ribbon. The first batch was handmade and given out on the streets of New York.

    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.

  • Who is Ben Whishaw and is he married?

    Who is Ben Whishaw and is he married?

    Ben Whishaw was made a household name in the critically acclaimed spy drama, London Spy in 2015.

    CREDIT: Denis-Makarenko bigstock

    Ben Whishaw has also appeared in James Bond films playing Q as well lending his voice to the new Paddington films playing the inquisitive bear himself. Last year he starred in the acclaimed A Very English Scandal. In 2015 he starred in London Spy which earned him a Bafta nomination.

    Is Ben Whishaw married?

    Ben is married to his husband, Mark Bradshaw. They got married in a civil partnership in August 2012. Although he’s is notoriously secretive about his private life, telling Out Magazine in 2011 that actors have the right to privacy and mystery. He said, “I don’t see why that has to be something you discuss openly because you do something in the public eye. I have no understanding of why we turn actors into celebrities”.

    The couple met around 2009 on the set of Bright Star where Whishaw played the role of English poet John Keats.

    His husband Mark Bradshaw is an Australian composer who is best known for his music for television and film. He was working on the film Bright Star when he met his future husband.

    CREDIT: (C) WTTV Limited – Photographer: Joss Barratt

    Is Ben Whishaw gay?

    It seems as though Ben Whishaw is gay and not bisexual. In 2014 he talked about his coming out experience saying it was “intense” but that ultimately everybody around him was supportive.

    How much is Ben Whishaw worth?

    According to Celebrity Net Worth Ben is worth $2 million which is about £1.56m

    How old is Ben Whishaw

    Ben was born October 14 1980 which makes him 38. He was born Born in Clifford, Bedfordshire, England, UK.

     

     

  • Is Gino D’Acampo gay?

    There’s no other TV chef quite like Gino D’Acampo, but is he married or in a relationship with anyone?

    Is Gino D'Acampo gay or straight

    Is Gino D’Acampo gay or straight and is he married?

    Gino is a naturally outgoing, flamboyant personality, so people may assume that he’s gay, but in fact, Gino D’Acampo is married to a woman called, Jessica.

    They married in 2001/2. The couple has two children together Luciano born 2002 and Rocco born in 2005.

    Has Gino D’Acampo kissed men?

    Well, there was that huge snog between Gino and John Barrowman. In an episode of Celebrity Juice, JB puckered up for Gino and planting a wet one right on Gino’s lips. By the looks of it, Gino enjoyed it more than John!

    How much is Gino D’Acampo worth?

    Gino has been on our screens since at least since 2004 – and has countless appearances on TV as an onscreen personality. He even won the 9th series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2009. He’s also fronted five seasons of Gino’s Italian Escape.

    CelebrityNetWorth.com has the Italian’s net-worth pinned at $10m. His net-worth is contributed to by the fact he’s also a co-owner of Bonta Italia LTD, a distributor of foodstuffs.

    He also owns a restaurant in central London.

    Where is Gino D'Acampo from?

    What TV Shows did Gino start on?

    Gino’s first brush with TV was with the UKTV Food channel as a guest on Great Food Live. In 2004 he became a judge on the show, Too Many Cooks. Since then he has been a regular for ITV, showing up for This Morning and Celebrity Juice.

    Where is D’Acampo from?

    Gino was born Torre del Greco, Italy in July 1976. He moved to the UK in 1995 when he was just 19. He worked The Orchard Restaurant and then the Cambio in Surrey.

    How tall is Gino D’Acampo?

    Gino stands at an average 5 foot 8 inches tall, which is apparently shorter than the average male in Southern Italy

    How did  Gino D’Acampo become famous?

    Gino’s first brush with fame was with the TV show Great Food Live hosted by Jeni Barnett on UKTV, that show ran from 2001 to 2007. He was asked to be part of the show because of his experience in dealing with Italian food. His company, Bonita Italia Ltd is a supplier of ingredients and he also had a career in developing ready meals for the Tesco Finest range.

    However, it could be argued that he reached newfound fame when he won the 9th series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2009. Since then he’s been a regular on ITV’s This Morning and Celebrity Juice on ITV2

    Where does Gino live?

    Gino lives in the British TV town of Elstree – known for its TV and film studios. Elstree is in Hertfordshire on the outskirts of London.

  • Is Freddie Mercury’s boyfriend, Jim Hutton still alive?

    Is Freddie Mercury’s boyfriend, Jim Hutton still alive?

    Interest in Freddie Mercury’s love-life has peaked since the release of the Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody and the exploration of some of the late singer’s relationships.

    Hans / Pixabay

    Freddie Mercury and Jim Hutton were together for the last years of the singer’s life, according to Hutton when Freddie died he was wearing a wedding ring that Hutton had given him. However since it was 1991, same-sex marriage was not legal and therefore there would have been no legal relationship to speak of.

    Is Jim Hutton still alive?

    Embed from Getty Images

    Jim Hutton, born in 1949 died in 2010, nearly 20 years after the death of his partner Freddie Mercury. The Irish man died on the 1st January, just three days before what would have been his 61st birthday He died at the age of 60 from lung cancer.

    Before he died he wrote a memoir on his relationship with Freddie, called Mercury and Me and included several unseen, candid photos of Freddie and himself. The couple were extremely secretive during Freddie’s life.

    Jim said that writing the book helped him through his grief after his boyfriend died.

    Did Jim Hutton also die from AIDS?

    Embed from Getty Images

    Although many people thought that Jim might have passed away from an AIDS-related complication, it was revealed that his death was caused by a deadly lung cancer. He died three days before his 61st birthday in 2010.

    When did Jim Hutton and Freddie Mercury meet?

    The relationship between Jim and Freddie formed between 1984 and 85. Apparently, Jim was unaware of who Freddie was when they first slept together. They were known to each other by the time Freddie and Queen appeared at Live Aid in 1985.

    When the pair first met Jim was a barber at the Savoy Hotel in London and he lived in Sutton. Jim would have been 34 or 35-years-old when he met Mercury. Freddie was two years and three months older than Hutton.

     

     

  • When is Butterfly on ITV and what is all about?

    When is Butterfly on ITV and what is all about?

    ITV is about to screen a brand new drama, Butterfly which focuses on issues surrounding a transgender child and their family.

    ITV

    Butterfly is a heartfelt and sensitive drama about a complex family situation, a child who feels that their gender identity is different from the one chosen at birth.

    When their 11-year-old, Max (Callum Booth-Ford), experiences increasingly distressing feelings around gender, separated parents, Vicky (Anna Friel) and Stephen (Emmett J. Scanlan) attempt to work together. But with both parents divided, will Max find the courage to identify as a girl and express herself as Maxine?

    Will Maxine’s family be able to accept her for who she really is?

    How many episodes of Butterfly are there?

    There are three episodes of Butterfly. The first is showing on ITV 1 on Sunday 14th October 2018. The drama will be aired between 9:00 PM and 10.00 PM.

    The next two episodes are to be shown at the same time and same day of the week for the following two weeks.

    Episode 2 of Butterfly will be shown on the 21st October 2018

    Episode 3 of Butterfly will be shown on the 28th October 2018 (not yet confirmed)

    Who stars in Butterfly on ITV?

    which actors are in Butterfly on ITV

    International Emmy award-winning actress Anna Friel (Marcella, Broken), is joined by Emmett J. Scanlan (Harlan Coben’s Safe, The Fall), Alison Steadman (Orphan Black, Gavin and Stacey), Sean McGinley (Paula, On a Clear Day) and child actor Callum Booth-Ford.

     

  • Here are the Commonwealth countries where being gay is still a crime

    Here are the Commonwealth countries where being gay is still a crime

    There are over 70 countries where homosexuality is illegal. 35 of them are in the Commonwealth.

    As our Government looks to form closer relationships with the 53 countries that make the Commonwealth post-Brexit, we discover which of those nations have active legislation against being gay. There are 35 nations in the Commonwealth where it is illegal to be LGBT+, more specifically the laws usually only target gay and bisexual men. Some of these countries have harsh punishments for those caught in same-sex relationships, such as the death penalty, flogging or life imprisonment.

    1. Antiqua and Barbuda
    2. Bangladesh
    3. Barbados
    4. Botswana
    5. Brunei
    6. Cameroon
    7. Cook Islands
    8. The Gambia
    9. Ghana
    10. Grenada
    11. Guyana
    12. Jamaica
    13. Kenya
    14. Kiribati
    15. Malawi
    16. Malaysia
    17. Mauritius
    18. Namibia
    19. Northern Nigeria*
    20. Pakistan
    21. Papua New Guinea
    22. Saint Kitts and Nevis
    23. Saint Lucia
    24. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
    25. Samoa
    26. Sierra Leone
    27. Singapore
    28. Solomon Islands
    29. Southern Nigeria*
    30. Sri Lanka
    31. Swaziland
    32. Tanzania
    33. Tonga
    34. Tuvalu
    35. Uganda
    36. Zambia

    Northern and Southern Nigeria are one nation but have different laws pertaining to homosexuality.

    Where did the anti-gay laws come from?

    Many of the countries that make up the Commonwealth were part of the former British Empire, which established forms of British law in colonies created by administrators. One of these is the infamous Section 377, which India recently struck down. The section prohibits homosexual acts, more specifically anal sex between men.

    Which countries in the Commonwealth have the death penalty for gay people?

    There are two nations which currently have the death penalty for same-sex relationships between men. Northern Nigeria and Brunei. There are some countries which have a maximum of life in prison, these include, Bangladesh, Barbados, Guyana, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda.

    In Jamaica, the penalty for same-sex relations is 10 years imprisonment and hard labour in Jamaica. In Kenya, the punishment is 14 years.

    Flogging?

    In Malaysia, you could be subject to flogging and 20 years in prison.

    What has the UK said it will do?

    In 2018 the UK’s government launched an LGBT+ action plan, in which it said it wanted to deal with issues faced by the LGBT community across the Commonwealth. Part of the plan specifically mentioned the Commonwealth. The government has offered support to Commonwealth countries wishing to reform discriminatory legislation. There is a £5.6 million programme, to be delivered through civil society organisations and will advance the legal equality and rights of all Commonwealth citizens, regardless of gender, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. However, critics say that £5.6 million is a minuscule amount of money to split between the nations that could consider decriminalising homosexuality.

    The government also stated it would, “work through UK embassies, high commissions and through international organisations, including the United Nations, European institution and the Commonwealth, to protect and promote LGBT rights and to address laws discriminating against LGBT people”.

    What has Theresa May said about anti-gay laws in the Commonwealth?

    In April, the UK’s Prime Minister, Theresa May said that anti-gay laws in the Commonwealth “were wrong then, and they are wrong now”.

    In a speech to the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Ms May said, “I am all too aware that these laws were often put in place by my own country. They were wrong then, and they are wrong now

    “As the UK’s prime minister, I deeply regret both the fact that such laws were introduced, and the legacy of discrimination, violence and even death that persists today,” she added.

  • Who is RuPaul? Is RuPaul married? And is the world’s most famous drag queen a woman?

    Who is RuPaul? Is RuPaul married? And is the world’s most famous drag queen a woman?

    RuPaul is probably now one of the most famous drag queens in the world, all thanks to the show RuPaul’s Drag Race.

    Is RuPaul transgender?
    (C) BIGSTOCK

    RuPaul Andre Charles‘ rise to fame has taken several decades and although the entertainer had an early brush with fame in the 90s, when he appeared in numerous films, had his own talk show and released his debut single and album, it wasn’t until the juggernaut reality show, RuPaul’s Drag Race that Ru’s star truly rose to astronomical levels of fame.

    RuPaul, is a drag queen, which means (although not always) he is a biological male who wears women’s clothes for entertainment. RuPaul has often asserted that he only dresses as a woman when he’s getting paid.

    So RuPaul is not a transgender or biological woman. RuPaul identifies as a man but has spoken about using both male and female pronouns. In Ru’s autobiography, the entertainer wrote, “You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don’t care! Just as long as you call me.”

    “You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don’t care! Just as long as you call me.”

    He has, in the past, caused controversy with the trans community and faced a backlash because of a statement in which he said that he “probably’ wouldn’t allow a contestant who had “really transitioned” to take part in Drag Race.

    He later doubled down on his statement on Twitter by saying, “You can take performance-enhancing drugs and still be an athlete, just not in the Olympics.”

    The comment was met with a backlash. RuPaul later apologised on Twitter saying, “Each morning I pray to set aside everything I THINK I know, so I may have an open mind and a new experience. I understand and regret the hurt I have caused. The trans community are heroes of our shared LGBTQ movement. You are my teachers.

    “In the 10 years we’ve been casting Drag Race, the only thing we’ve ever screened for is charisma uniqueness nerve and talent. And that will never change.”

    Is RuPaul married?

    Is Rupaul married?
    (C) BIGSTOCK

    Yes, RuPaul got married in 2017 to his long-term partner Georges LeBar. Until their marriage, the pair had been together for over 20 years. Georges is a rancher who has a 50-acre ranch estate in Wyoming and South Dakota.

    Speaking about how they met RuPaul said, “I met Georges on the dance floor at Limelight in New York City, the disco,”

    “He was on the dance floor dancing like a manic. I had to go over and say, ‘What are you going through?’”

    “And it’s also because he’s actually 6’7”, so he’s taller than I am — so of course I had to notice him.”

    Love RuPaul check out The Pride Shop’s range of gifts and products.

  • Who are “Get The L Out” the Pride In London demonstrators

    Over the weekend, Pride In London’s parade was interrupted by a protest group, Get The L Out. Who are they and what do they stand for?

    Get The L Out is a fringe lesbian and feminist protest group which previously called for transgender people to be removed from the LGBT acronym. The petition was ultimately unsuccessful and now they are petitioning to have the “L” removed from LGBT+. The petition was signed by just 310 people. They say that lesbians are being “silenced and threatened” and claim that all women and girls are “at risk” and their interests are taking a backseat to the transgender community.

    Over the weekend around eight to ten women stopped the Pride In London march and lay on the ground after being asked by organisers to move on. When they wouldn’t organisers decided to allow the group to march but at the front, well ahead of the official starting line of the parade, leaving enough gap as to ensure that the group would not be legitimised by walking behind the rainbow flag.

    The group also makes the claim that publications slur lesbians by using the word “terf” and “cis”.

    Terf stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist. Cisgendered people are those whose outward gender expression matches the sex they were assigned at birth by their parents and medical professions.

    Anti-trans?

    The protest was strongly condemned by Pride In London who said that the group had shown “a level of bigotry, ignorance and hate that is unacceptable”. They also said that the group was not a registered parade group. The statement also went on to say that Pride In London “reject what this group stands for. They do not share our values, which are about inclusion and respect and support for the most marginalised parts of our community”.

    GTLO says that they,”believe that lesbian rights are under attack by the trans movement and we encourage lesbians everywhere to leave the LGBT and form their own independent movement, as well as to be vocal and take action against the proposed changes to the General Recognition Act”.

  • What is that Focus sign by the Thames and Tower Bridge?

    If you’ve walked past the massive FOCUS sign on the Thames and wondered what it was, we’ve got the answer.

    What is that Focus sign by the Thames and Tower Bridge?

    It’s an Artifical Intelligence, interactive art piece. The installation’s interactive letters, spelling F-O-C-U-S, use artificial intelligence to interact with visitors and passers-by to discover and highlight their interests or passions.

    Once determined, these passions are displayed across 540 LED video tiles embedded in the six meters high, 30m long structure, alongside a video edit of the experience uploaded to Facebook to share.

    It took approximately 200 hours to train the AI programme to ‘understand’ and respond to users, and it is able to converse in four languages, with London the second stop on a five-leg European City tour. Standing at six-metres high, the 20-tonne structure took over 6,000 hours to fabricate.

    “The Ford Focus has an extensive fan base, coming from nearly two million customers over 20 years,” said Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director.  “Those in London over one of its busiest weekends can celebrate the arrival of the 2018 Ford Focus by sharing their passions via our giant F-O-C-U-S letters.”

    Ford will be supporting Pride Festival during the switch-on moment and throughout the weekend, displaying the Pride flag across the installation, as well as unfurling the St George’s flag on Saturday ahead of England’s quarterfinal World Cup fixture.

    Edmund Rogers from Ford’s GLOBE group, an employee resource group for sexual orientation and gender identity commented, “Ford has a strong history of supporting LGBT rights, and Pride, so we’re very proud to be flying the flag in support of Pride 2018.”

    The installation is open to the public until 8th July, supported by a range of new Focus vehicles, allowing people to explore the technology on offer in the new Ford Focus.

  • Is The Birdcage a real club?

    Is The Birdcage a real club?

    Set in Florida’s famous and beautiful South Beach, The Birdcage made good use of the iconic beachfront, but is the club they feature in the film an actual real club you can go into?

    Is The Birdcage a real club?
    (C) JAKE HOOK / THEGAYUK

    Yes and no. The actual building used, well the frontage, is real. Right there on Ocean Drive, South Beach, but the business that occupies the building isn’t called The Birdcage. It’s called The Carlyle and it is somewhere you can get a bite to eat or drink. But unfortunately no drag show. No Agador. No Armand and Albert.

    The Carlyle is not a hotel but actually, a residential building with 19 individually owned and operated units within it which can be rented out for holiday stays. It has a restaurant on the ground floor. The building itself has starred in many movies including, Bad Boys 2 in 2003, Random Hearts in 1999, Pronto in 1997, The Birdcage in 1996 and Scarface in 1983.

    It originally opened in 1939 and is famous for its iconic Art Deco design.

    You can eat The Carlyle, check out the reviews on TripAdvisor.

     

     

     

  • Is Priscilla Queen Of The Desert based on a true story?

    The Adventures Priscilla Queen Of The Desert is one of the most enduring of gay movies and has turned into a cult classic.

    The film was released back in 1994 when times were less accepting and there’s no doubt that Priscilla and its cast have played a part towards LGBT+ acceptance in its home country, Austraila, but also more broadly across the globe.

    The film follows two drag queens and a trans woman who travel to the centre of Australia to play their show in a casino resort. Along the way, they encounter some interesting and dangerous people.

    Is the story based on a real-life story?

    Sadly, although it would make for a brilliant real-life story, The Adventures Priscilla Queen Of The Desert is a work of fiction. Although much of the film’s subtext: intolerance, homophobia and transphobia are very much facets of LGBT+ life.

    The film was written and directed by openly gay director and screenwriter Stephan Elliot. Stephan only came out as gay in 2012, nearly two decades after Priscilla was originally released.