THEGAYUK

Tag: France News

Get the latest LGBT+ France news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in France.

  • Top 10 Most Beautiful Christmas Markets In Europe

    Christmas is coming and with it comes the cold, snow, stressful last-minute-present-buying, and Christmas markets.

    You’ve probably seen some around your town or city, and if you’re in for travelling a little further afield this year, here are 10 of the best Christmas markets from around Europe.

    MADRID

    SPAIN

    The largest square in Madrid is home to a stunningly beautiful market in November and December.

    This usually summer vacation spot comes alive to celebrate Christmas during the winter months.

    VIENNA

    AUSTRIA

    Between mid-November and the end of December, Vienna’s centuries-old Christmas markets have something for everyone. One of the oldest in Europe, running since 1298 as a simple ‘December Market’, there are now over 20 Christmas market areas across the city.

    PRAGUE

    CZECH REPUBLIC

    A smaller market in Prague is coupled with the Annual International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music. The city space is home to traditional Advent markets, and open-air performances by various ensembles.

    BRUSSELS

    BELGIUM

    Running from late-November to early January, the Brussels market covers the city centre and is one of the few that includes a public ice-skating rink.

    LILLE

    FRANCE

    This cute French city springs into vibrant Christmas celebrations at the market place ‘On Place Rihour’ where visitors can find local and international treats, arts & crafts, and food. Ooh la la!

    DRESDEN

    GERMANY

    One of Germany’s largest markets, Dresden’s city area, is covered in hundreds of market stalls, and seemingly no space in the city’s vastness is left without a market. With rides, food, crafts, and gifts, as well as traditional Gluhwein, Dresden’s market is one to see to believe.

    MUNICH

    GERMANY

    A massive market in Southern Germany, the Munich market (or Kriskindlemarkt) is one of the oldest, and combines traditional southern-German food, crafts, and gifts, with modern touches. These vast markets will certainly have something to entertain everyone, no matter what your interests.

    BUDAPEST

    HUNGARY

    This market centres on the Vörösmarty Square, which houses the majority of the festivities, including an ice-rink between late-November and January.

    STOCKHOLM

    SWEDEN

     

    The Old Town in Sweden is home to this wonderful market where visitors can sample local delicacies such as elk meat and reindeer between late-November and the end of December
    STRASBOURG

    FRANCE

    One of the best markets by size, reputation and popularity, this market is the oldest official Christmas Market, beginning in 1570. Running from mid-November to late December, this market is packed with tradition and modern excitement.

  • The Sword Is Strong With These Two

    An advert by a mobile company has taken Star Wars affiliation to a whole new level after it features two guys sword fighting complete with swishing lightsabers.

    Not sure this is entirely endorsed by the Star Wars franchise but it struck a chord with us.

    A French language ad for mobile phone company,Wiko,  shows two guys engaging in some swordplay, yes actual penis play… before being interrupted by one of their fathers. Major awks.
    The 30-second ad shows two erect penises in pitch-black, covered by glow in the dark condoms, swishing back and forth whilst being accompanied by the famous lightsaber noise.
    The video has been viewed over 178,485 times.

     

     

  • Some Of Brussels’ Gay Bars Remain Open For Business Despite Lockdown

    Some of Brussels’ gay bars are open for business despite a citywide lockdown as the Belgian Government raises the terror threat to “Very Serious”.

    Some gay bars in the Belgian capital of Brussels are open for business as usual but are working with the police to ensure the safety of their customers. The news comes after the Belgian Government put the entire city into lockdown, closing the Metro and raising the terror threat to its maximum level.
    The capital is enduring its second day of security lockdown as police forces continue to look for “several terror suspects” including Salah Abdeslam who was seen in gay bars in Brussels’ Saint Jacques quarter, before the attacks in Paris, which left victims 130 dead last week.

    Last week the British Government issued guidance on how to survive a terrorist attack.

    One of Brussels’ busiest gay bars, Le Boys Boudoir, a popular bar in Brussels issued a statement that it was keeping normal hours, but asked patrons not to bring bags into the bar.

    The Chez Maman issued a statement that on the advice from police “not to run no risk and exceptionally close its doors”.

     

  • Paris Terror Fugitive Seen In Brussels Gay Bars

    The gay community is on edge after it has emerged that one of the Paris Terror fugitives, Salah Abdeslam was seen in a Brussels’ bar “flirting” with customers.

    • Salah Abdeslam is 26 and was born in Brussel.
    • He is the subject of Europe’s biggest manhunt for his alleged part in the Paris Terror Attacks over a week ago.
    •  130 people were gunned down in the streets of Paris
    • Abdeslam was reportedly seen by bar staff in Brussels’ gay bars, who thought he might be a rent boy.

    According to reports one of the Paris Terror Attacks’ suspects, Salah Abdeslam, 26, was seen by regulars in gay bars in Belgium’s capital city Brussels. He has been on the run ever since the atrocities in Paris that left 130 dead. Sources are claiming that Brussels-born, Abdeslam was part of the terror cell that prowled through the streets of Paris killing innocent people indiscriminately. It is believed that he rented and drove the car containing the attackers to Paris.

    A bartender at one of the bars told the Sunday Times (sub) that they had him down as a rent boy.

    “He was always hanging out with that kind of crowd.”

    It also emerged that regulars had seen him smoking, drinking and flirting with men in the bars of Brussels’ Saint Jacques quarter, according to the report. It is not known if he actually had relations with anyone from the bars.
    The bar owner, who wished to remain anonymous after going through hours of security footage from his premises.
    An international manhunt for Abdeslam has so far failed; causing concern for authorities around Europe. Around 2000 police officers are involved with the search.
    Brussels has been in lockdown after the Belgian Government raised the Terror threat level to the highest level; “very serious” indicated that a terrorist attack is serious and imminent. The entire Brussels metro network was closed on the 21st and 22nd and many events, such as football matches have been cancelled.

    Last week the British Government issued guidance on how to survive a terrorist attack.

    Meanwhile gay bars in Brussels are remaining open, but are working closely with the police. Le Boys Boudoir, a popular bar in Brussels issued a statement that it was keeping normal hours, but asked patrons not to bring bags into the bar.

  • 128 People Killed In Cold Blood In French Capital of Paris

    For the second time in 2015 a major terrorist attack has rocked the capital of France.

    (more…)

  • Gay Couple Share First Time With A Woman On YouTube

    Gay couple Authus and Nicolas have never been a woman before, that is until now – and it’s not quite a woman, just the noo noo of a woman.

    The French YouTubing couple, have tried their first womanly experience – by using a mastubator called LOLA, live on YouTube. After unwrapping the fake vagina, Nico is the first to try the toy, behind a curtain and exclaims,

    “it’s eating me, oo it’s weird, it’s not that tight actually, it’s not as tight as…

    to which Authus replies,

    “my ass?”

    The pair then swap… and decide that it feels okay, before joking that perhaps they’ve been straight after all these years. They joke that at least “she’ll” always be ready!

    We’re not convinced, we think you still might be gay…

     

  • France Defends Its Openly Gay Ambassador To The Vatican

    For the second time in the past decade the Catholic Church are allegedly refusing to recognise the France’s nomination as their Ambassador to the Vatican.

    (more…)

  • Gay News Site Proud To Re-Publish Charlie Hebdo Muslim Gay Kiss

    In a defiant move, PinkNews has re-published a picture that depicts a controversial cartoon showing murdered editor Stephane Charbonnier French kissing a Muslim man.

    Yesterday, (7th January) Paris was rocked to its core when up to three masked men stormed the Charlie Hebdo offices and murdered 8 staff members, including the editor Stephane Charbonnier. Charlie Hebdo is a satirical magazine that has in the past published pictures that have been considered offensive to some Muslims.

    Twelve people have now known to have died from the shootings, including two police officers, a caretaker and guest at magazine’s offices. The majority of those killed were staff members who were in their morning editorial meeting. Four of the staff were cartoonists for the magazine, which has been running since 1970.

    Despite the massacre, the publishers at Charlie Hebdo have announced that they will go ahead and publish next week’s issue.

    The magazine has previously been targeted with a firebomb attack in 2011 and cyber terrorism for its editorial decision in showing content considered to be controversial.

    In defiance, PinkNews said that it was proud to republish a controversial picture which showed the late editor kissing a Muslim man, in an article which shows powerful cartoon responses to the terror attack in Paris. The wording above the picture state: “Love Is Stronger Than Hate.”

    A PinkNews spokesperson said,

    “The PinkNews editorial team decided to repost the cartoon simply to send the message that love is stronger than hate. This applies to all forms of prejudice, including homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia and to any extremism against the West.

    “In the end it is positivity and love which will always trump evil and hate.”

  • BUTT IS IT ART? Tree is Erected In Paris

    Diana Vreeland the ‘Anna Wintour’ of the 1940’s –1960’s once very archly declared ‘the best thing about London is Paris!’.

    Art lovers would definitely agree with her this week as the French Capital hosts the 40th Edition of The International Contemporary Art Fair (FIAC) which after Art Basel is THE leading exhibition in the World. Based in the Palais Grand and in venues all over the city and for several days it becomes the meeting place between artists, collectors, gallerists, curators, museum directors and stars from the world of international contemporary art.

    We know that Ms Vreeland would thoroughly approve of such a stylish gathering, but we are a little unsure of what she would have thought of American artist Paul McCarthy’s piece called ‘ Tree’ an 80ft inflatable sculpture ‘erected’ in the heart of the Place de Vendome.

    It kind of reminds us of something BUTT we are not quite sure what!

  • SEX TOY Christmas Tree Destroyed By Vandals

    Vandals have destroyed an art installation by Paul McCarthy.

    An art installation which was criticised for looking like a butt plug has been destroyed over night by vandals. The art was erected in Place Vendome, which is near the centre of Paris. Protesters who said the tree looked like a sex toy had decried it, saying it was a waste of tax payer’s money.

    The 80ft inflatable piece simply called ‘Tree’ was popped overnight. It had caused a lot of upset amongst anti-gay groups because it looks like a giant butt plug.

    Police in Paris said, ‘Individuals have severed the cables that hold the sculpture in place, taking advantage of a momentary lack of a security guard,

    ‘Investigations are ongoing.’

    The Mayor of Paris condemned the attack and the French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin said that the vandalism was ‘an attack on creative freedom’.

  • VIDEO: Naked Boys Towel Dancing

    The dashing pair wowed the audience in France’s version of the hit reality show: Got Talent, France Got Talent. (more…)