THEGAYUK

Tag: Glasgow News

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

  • Are there gay cruising grounds in Glasgow?

    Are there gay cruising grounds in Glasgow?

    Did you know there are many gay cruising and dogging grounds in Glasgow?

    Glasgow and its surrounding areas is home to several cruising and dogging grounds, did that surprise you?

    Whether you love or loathe the idea of anonymous outdoor gay sex, it’s hard to escape the fact that gay cruising grounds are all around us.

    You probably don’t even know, but from where you’re sitting or standing right now there’s probably a cruising or dogging ground just metres away from you in Glasgow, and they’re a hangover from more homophobic times in the UK. At our last count, there were at least six known cruising grounds in Glasgow and surrounding areas. The most popular are Yorkhill Park and Greyfriars Road.

    Interested in all cruising grounds in Scotland? Check out Scottish gay cruising grounds here.

    Why have cruising grounds become more popular?

    Although we can’t say for sure, something has to be said about how the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown has affected the way in which gay, bi and curious men get sex. With saunas and bathhouses closed for the best part of three months, many more are yet to still open, guys who can’t, or don’t want to accommodate in their own homes are looking to other places. One of those will be outdoor venues.

    Where did gay cruising come from?

    Gay cruising is not a new phenomenon. It dates back to when sex between men was illegal in the UK. Finding a place where two men could be intimate with each other without too many questions being raised was tricky until it was realised that men’s public toilets were a perfect place.

    These were named cottages because they actually used to look like quaint little cottages.

    The act of finding sex in these public conveniences became known as “cottaging“.

    The sex between men who would frequent a cottage would usually be anonymous. Gloryholes, a hole drilled between stalls in public toilets became a way in which this sex could remain faceless.

    To this day there are loads of cottages and cruising grounds in Glasgow

    Cottaging and cruising etiquette

    Are there gay cruising grounds in Edinburgh?
    Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

    Generally speaking, not a lot of talking goes on when cruising. A series of looks and gestures would let others know what you were up to. At urinals, guys would stand, playing with themselves subtly to let others know that they were up for some play. Then if the feeling is mutual the pair could make their way to a cubicle for more privacy.

    At cruising grounds, much of the same would happen, except the action took place away from public footpaths.

    Is Cottaging Legal in the UK?

    Cottaging is illegal in the United Kingdom under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and applies to both heterosexual and homosexual acts.

    The Sexual Offences Act 2003 doesn’t say however that sex in a public place is illegal. Cruising grounds and cottaging are two different spaces. Cruising grounds are defined as open spaces, where men can hook up with men, or straight couples can meet for sex (often referred to as dogging), as long as no members of the public can see you.

    You risk being arrested if reported by a member of the public. If this happens you have the right to legal advice from an on-duty solicitor at the police station. If convicted you could be sentenced to 6 months in prison and /or a fine.

  • Where Can I Buy Poppers In Glasgow, Scotland?

    Are poppers / room aromas legal in Scotland

    First off, yes Poppers are a legal drug in Scotland and across the UK. This became a legal sticking point in 2016 when Poppers and their legality were up for debate in the parliament.

    However, if you’re in the need of picking up aromas right now in Glasgow, you might find that your pickings are rather short, but there are a few high locations that you can try out.

    Firstly, you can try Luke and Jack can be found in the city at 45 Virginia Street, Glasgow, G1 1TS. You can also buy Poppers at the Pipeworks Gay Sauna, which is located right by the Clyde River.

    However, if you’re looking for a more online option, you can always buy poppers online. A number of shops exist that sell room aromas. The shop, THEGAYSHOP has a wide variety.

    Are poppers legal in the UK?

    Where can you buy poppers and room aromas in Glasgow?
    CREDIT: TheGayUK

    It is completely legal to consume and sell poppers in the UK. In 2017 there were fears that the Conservative government would outlaw their sale and usage, however, poppers were proven to not be a psychoactive substance and so the government made a U-turn and decided against making the liquid illegal.

    If you’re wondering whether poppers are safe to use, then read our advice on them here.

    What else is LGBT+ in Scotland?

    Glasgow has a number of LGBT+ / gay venues including Saunas and Bars, Pride and much more in the Glasgow area.

  • Boyfriends holding hands, subjected to a horrifying homophobic ordeal in Glasgow

    Boyfriends holding hands, subjected to a horrifying homophobic ordeal in Glasgow

    Boyfriends were apparently subjected to 30 minutes of homophobic abuse from a stranger on the streets of Glasgow on Burns Night.

    Drew and his boyfriend were subjected to a horrifying homophobic ordeal on Burns night as they held hands in Glasgow, Scotland.

    Lawyer Drew McCusker, 29, took to Twitter to explain that he and his boyfriend were subjected to a “really sh*t homophobic incident in Glasgow’s southside” which included them being called “bent bastards” and “f**king poofs”.

    His tweet went viral within hours of his report.

    According to Drew, he and his partner were holding hands when he alleges that a man walking passed them called them “a pair of bent bastards”.

    When challenged, the man repeated what he had said, which is when a call was made to the police.

    According to Drew, he spent 26 minutes on the phone with police as the man, he said, called the couple “bent bastards” “bent c*nts” “fucking poofs” “pair of poofs” and stating that it was “not fucking right two men sleeping together”

    30 minutes of hate

    geralt / Pixabay

    The man’s outrage continued to spew for 30 minutes, apparently telling passersby what he thought of the two boyfriends. An experience Drew has called ” hugely upsetting” and “humiliating”.

    When the police arrived, the man was arrested and both Drew and his boyfriend gave separate statements.

    The entire ordeal left Drew crying and deeply upset.

    He said, “I don’t know if it was arrogance or hubris that made me think I wouldn’t be the victim of such an incident, or that it would upset me as much as it has.

    “I’m still hurt by the demeaning language he hurled at us. He looked at, talked to and treated me like I was shit on a shoe. It felt awful.

    “Today I feel confused about how to feel”

    Hate Crime is on the rise in Scotland.

    In 2018 to 2019 hate crimes based on sexual orientation rose by five per cent according to a report on Hate Crime In Scotland. There were 1,176 charges reported in 2018-19. The numbers of crimes reported and charged have risen year on year since 2010, except in 2014/15.

    Charges brought on crimes against transgender people actually dropped to 40 (2018/19) from 52 reports in the previous period (2017/2018).

    Arrested and charged

    According to Police Scotland, a 75-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection to the incident.

    They told THEGAYUK.com “Around 6:10 pm on Saturday, 25 January 2020, police received a report of a man being verbally abusive to two men in Queen’s Drive”.

  • The Student Loans Company has an LGBT+ Network

    The Student Loans Company has an LGBT+ Network

    The Student Loans Company (SLC) in Glasgow has an LGBT+ network and it has more than 100 members.

    rihaij / Pixabay

    Over 100 people from SLC offices in Glasgow, Darlington and Llandudno have signed up to the network since it launched last February with the number expected to grow in the year ahead. The company employes over 3,300 staff members and has 8.6 million customers.

    Gary Stevenson, Co-Chair of the network said, “It’s been a really busy first year and the response to the network has been inspiring. More than 60 people showed their support in joining us at Pride Glasgow and Northern Pride Parades last year. Our colleagues in Wales were empowered to hold their own on-site Pride event at their office too.”

    Staff also showed support by contributing to the network’s fundraising efforts for local LGBT+ charities by taking part in bake sales, charity football matches and quiz nights.

    Morven Spalding, Director of HR added, “It’s fantastic to see the organisation readily engage with the network. In keeping with LGBT History Month, some of the network’s activities have really helped to shine a light on various aspects of LGBT+ life. The network’s ‘Let’s Chat’ drop-in sessions ran across all of our sites and gave staff the opportunity to drop in to discuss, listen and ask questions on different aspects of LGBT+ life such as the Transgender Day of Remembrance from different people within the community.“

    Support for the network and community goes all the way to the top at the company as CEO Paula Sussex recently demonstrated when she met with LGBT+ students from Northumbria University. She was invited to have her photograph taken with the university’s Proud Ally sign as part of a campaign to celebrate influential individuals who stand for equality in the student populace.

    Karl Robson, Vice President Education, Northumbria Student’s Union said, “When influential individuals like Paula show solidarity with the LGBTQ community, it helps students feel validated and gives them confidence that, when they go out into the graduate job market, employers will be supportive.

    “The message from Paula is an important part of a larger vision to support equality across the university and the graduate job market, and will make a bigger impact than we are able to measure.”

  • John Barrowman is coming to Glasgow on tour, here’s how you can see him

    John Barrowman is coming to Glasgow on tour, here’s how you can see him

    I’m a Celebrity Star, John Barrowman will be stopping in Glasgow on his “Fabulous” tour and you can grab your tickets now.

    John Barrowman will be taking his show to Glasgow, Scotland this summer.

    Barrowman is a singer, actor, dancer, presenter, judge and author. Most recently, UK audiences delighted in supporting him as he made the final three in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here 2018.

    Speaking about the tour he said: “I can’t believe it’s been 30 years from my West End debut in Anything Goes to my Australian jungle adventures in I’m A Celebrity, and there’s been lots of fabulousness in between.

    “I’m thrilled to celebrate this amazing milestone with my FABULOUS tour. I’m looking forward to meeting fans and sharing some of my favourite moments with you all.”

    The tour opens at the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End on Sunday, June 16, but will be stopping off at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on the 18th June and then in Edinburgh on the 19th June 2019 and then will play the following dates:

    • Tues 18 June Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
    • Weds 19 June Edinburgh, Usher Hall
    • Thurs 20 June Newcastle, City Hall
    • Sat 22 June Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
    • Mon 24 June Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall
    • Weds 26 June Norwich, The Theatre Royal
    • Thurs 27 June Brighton, Dome Concert Hall
    • Fri 28 June Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
    • Sun 30 June Birmingham, Symphony Hall
    • Mon 1 July Salford, The Lowry (Lyric Theatre)
    • Tues 2 July Cardiff, St David’s Hall

    Tickets will be available to buy from the 23rd January, unless you are an O2 customer, or are elligble for presale tickets. For the Glasgow date click here.

  • RuPaul drag queens are coming to Glasgow and this is how you can see them

    RuPaul drag queens are coming to Glasgow and this is how you can see them

    Asia O’Hara, Detox, Eureka O’hara, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls, Sharon Needles  Violet Chachki and Michelle Visage are all coming to Glasgow in 2019 here’s where you can get tickets.

    RuPaul’s Drag Race ‘Werq The World Tour’ is returning to Glasgow in 2019 with its biggest UK show ever. The tour which showcases some of the best stars from the hit TV series will play Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo on the 17th May 2019.

    BOOK TO SEE WERQ THE WORLD in Glasgow

    Produced by Voss Events, Drag Race producers World of Wonder and VH1, the all-new production follows a team of intergalactic queens including Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Detox, Eureka O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Monét X Change, Naomi Smalls, Sharon Needles and Violet Chachki on their mission to the sun to save our solar system from a dark entity intent on harnessing its power.

    Mission leader Michelle Visage guides the audience through the universe for a dynamic display of the wonders held by each planet and its regal sovereign.

    Tickets go on sale December 19 (pre-sale begins December 17), just in time for the holidays.

    “This is the biggest, most elaborate production we have ever created,” says an exuberant Brandon Voss, the show’s producer.

    “The music, sets, fashion, choreography and lighting are all a cosmic feast for the senses. Audiences will be in awe as their favourite queens come together on some incredible numbers.”

    “Werq the World is the official Drag Race tour for a reason,” continues Visage. “The show has always been a theatrical production of the highest calibre but in 2019, we’re stepping it up into the stratosphere. This show is going to leave fans gagging and I’m not afraid to say that my performance, in particular, will give you life.”

    Voss Events is a leading production company that consistently delivers superior entertainment programming. Past events have featured stars such as Lady Gaga and Cher.

    The queens will be coming to Belfast, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Glasgow and Sunderland.

    The WERQ THE WORLD TOUR will travel major cities in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and Latin America in 2019. To book tickets for the Glasgow date click here

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Titanic, The Musical, King’s Theatre Glasgow

    THEATRE REVIEW | Titanic, The Musical, King’s Theatre Glasgow

    ★★★☆☆ | Titanic – The Musical – King’s Theatre Glasgow

    Titanic - The Musical - National Tour review

    **This review was taken from the Sheffield production**

    Despite it being over 100 years since Titanic slipped under the waves, the fascination with the ship and those on board hasn’t faded, as evidenced by the packed house of this revival of Moury Yeston’s musical. The story of the ships maiden voyage and, ultimately, its demise is told through a wealth of characters from all classes of passengers and from the crew on board.

    The set, all sheet metal and rivets, towers above the audience instilling in them the impression of the sheer scale of the ship whilst a simple two-tier stage evoked an image of the decks and worked effectively. But from the off, the cast were on top form, as the magnificent ensemble belted out the opening numbers with such gusto that it reverberated in the chest, like the sounds of the engines of the great ship itself.

    And therein lays the strength of this production. Its cast was outstanding, and whether singing alone, in small groups or as an ensemble, the whole thing was beautifully sung and more akin to an opera than a musical. The three leads Philip Rham, Simon Green and Greg Castiglioni bounced off each other nicely as the Captain, owner and designer of the ship, and Niall Sheeny impressed as the stoker Fred Barrett. Whilst the direction was fairly minimal, the cast switched between their multiple roles seamlessly, spilling out into the aisles on occasions to engage the audience; whilst on a technical level, the lighting and sound design, the costumes and the balance between actors voices and orchestra were all absolutely spot on.

    Sadly, an overly long runtime, a handful of similar-sounding songs and a few too many story threads anchored down the first act to an extent, but the second act picked up the pace as the race to abandon ship took hold.

    What comes out of the production is an underlying theme of love between the characters, from the newlyweds to the eloping couple to the elderly husband and wife, and it is this which packs the emotional punch and brings the human cost of the tragedy sharply into focus.

    Book tickets to see Titanic, The Musical at King’s Theatre Glasgow until 2nd June 2018

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Fat Friends The Musical – Glasgow

    ★★★☆☆ | Fat Friends The Musical, Glasgow

    *Review taken from the Sheffield production*

    As her wedding day approaches, Kelly buys her dream wedding dress, even though it is two sizes too small for her.

    When Julia Fleshman, the head of a national slimming club chain, comes to town to judge a slimming contest live on TV, Kelly ends up going viral with her body confident comments; and seizing the opportunity for some publicity, Fleshman offers to pay for Kelly’s wedding if she can slim into the dress in time for the big day. But with the wedding only six weeks away, the pressure is on…

    Fat Friends is very much a piece of crowd-pleasing theatre. Pulling together multiple stories of the good folk of Headingly, a town near Leeds, the stage is filled with likeable, if slightly caricatured, characters and is a straightforward evening of undemanding fun.

    The show boasts a good cast, with Jodie Prenger taking the lead as Kelly, and doing so with a cocky northern confidence and a belting singing voice. Sam Bailey (The X-Factor) is great as Kelly’s Mum and Natasha Hamilton (from Atomic Kitten) is the scheming Julia Fleshman. Thrown into the mix is an affable turn from Kevin Kennedy (Coronation Street) and ex-cricketer Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, who takes to the stage and fares better than expected with a slightly stilted, if not tongue in cheek, portrayal of Kevin, Kelly’s nice but dim fiancé.

    The songs are amiable enough and used to move the story forward, and whilst they were perfectly pleasant to listen to and shoehorned a few laughs into the lyrics, they served their purpose well enough in terms of keeping up the show upbeat and jolly, but were ultimately fairly forgettable. The live orchestra added to the atmosphere within the theatre and the set design was a colourful cartoonish affair which was well lit and effective in its simplicity.

    Written and directed by Kay Mellor, who wrote the original TV series that the show is based on; Fat Friends is a rather loud, boisterous and upbeat show, which really resonates with its target audience. It’s a rather clichéd musical by numbers, with a heavy-handed script, fairly trite lyrics and a rather unsubtle approach to its humour, but what it lacks in sophistication, it makes up for with likeable characters, a few good belly laughs and buckets-full of near the knuckle, northern charm.

    Fat Friends is at the King’s Theatre Glasgow, Glasgow until the 5th May 2018, book tickets click here

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Glasgow

    ★★★★☆ | Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

    **This review was taken from the Sheffield date**

    During the 1960’s Carole King was part of one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the era, writing hits for The Shirelles, The Drifters and Little Eva; leading to success with songs including “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, “The Loco-Motion”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman”, “You’ve Got A Friend” and “I Feel The Earth Move”.  But behind the success was a personal struggle for King in trying to make her marriage with Gerry Goffin, her philandering husband and songwriting partner, work; and it is her rise to the top and her troubled home life which form the backbone of the story for this musical biopic.

    Beautiful really stands apart from the usual jukebox musical/musical biopics, given the quality of the writing, presentation and performances. The narrative absorbs you straightaway; and there is an abundance of instantly likeable characters, a wonderfully sharp script filled with warmth, humour and personality and a lighting design which really does bring the stage to life, making it feel bright, bubbly and brimming with energy.

    But the quality was not reserved only for the look of the piece, but extends to its rather talented cast members. Bronte Barbe was delightfully charismatic as Carole King, projecting a powerful voice without ever having to force a note; and exuding a natural and believable on-stage chemistry with Kane Oliver Parry as King’s husband, Gerry Goffin. Amy Ellen Richardson and Matthew Gonsalves bounced off each other nicely as the bickering Weil and Mann; and the entire cast, including the ensemble, all stepped up the plate in terms of their vocals, alongside some incredibly competent acting, giving rise to very believable performances across the board.

    The first act, detailing King’s success within the music industry, brings with it a barrage of 17 musical numbers which are performed with flair and vigour; whilst the second act is slightly more downbeat and more drama focussed, as the decline of King’s marriage and her growth into a solo artist are depicted.

    Although you may not have heard of Carole King, her music is embedded into popular culture, and with the number of songs that you immediately recognise adorning the stage, you realise just how much of an influential songwriter King really was. Ultimately, this is a story of love, hope and determination, and a production which rises above the usual jukebox musicals with a set of strong central performances, in particularly Bronte, and a polished, professional and quality feel.

    Beautiful is at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow until the 17th February 2018

    The show then continues on its national tour until 23 June 2018. Click here to book tickets.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, King’s Theatre Glasgow

    ★★★ | The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, King’s Theatre Glasgow

    REVIEW | The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Kings Theatre Glasgow

    Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy, discovers that his neighbour’s dog, Wellington, has been killed by someone (the poor dog having been stabbed with a garden fork), and sets off to find out who the culprit is. But Christopher has Asperger’s syndrome, which makes his perception and functioning very different to other boys his age and as the truth behind Wellington’s death starts to be revealed, it leads Christopher to embark on a remarkable adventure.

    The show is based on the hugely successful book by Mark Haddon and has been a West End and Broadway hit. Utilising a virtually empty stage, the presentation of the show was intriguing, using screens on the back and sides of the stage, almost framing the show in a cube, reflective of Christopher’s constraints in his functioning. Lights flicker like the firing of neurons in his brain, and black and white projections are used to show both his thought process and to set the scene. The show, like the book, is written from Christopher’s point of view and the presentation effectively places the audience members squarely into the centre of his mind and thoughts. The simplicity of the set is reflective of the way in which Christopher perceives the world and worked very well. There were pieces of carefully choreographed movement throughout, and the scene where Christopher arrives in London and is overwhelmed by the overstimulation of his environment is very well done. In this show, less certainly is more, and the monochrome set nicely mirrored Christopher’s rather binary thinking.

    But placing the style and presentation to one side, the most impressive aspect of the show was the central performance of Scott Reid. Reid’s portrayal of Christopher Boone was highly accomplished – mixing the complexities of the characters personality, his physical traits and a childlike innocence which combined to provide a rounded and believable performance

    The show, and in particular, the first act, is very well written, with a script which imports large chunks of text from the book to provide a faithful adaptation of the source material. Despite being bleak at times, the show was filled with gentle humour; and created a world with a myriad of characters that come in and out of Christopher’s life which nestle alongside the well-crafted moments of dramatic tension and emotionally powerful scenes.

    The show has won a slew of awards, including 7 Olivier Awards and 5 Tony Awards, and it is easy to see why. There is a lot of depth to the play, exploring the adult world of interpersonal relationships through a simplistic and innocent perspective.

    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is playing at the King’s Theatre Glasgow until the 19th August 2017

    • Review taken from Sheffield production.

  • Man left with serious facial injuries after homophobic assault

    A young man has been left with “serious” facial injuries after a homophobic hate crime in the Scottish city of Glasgow.

    Man left with serious facial injuries after homophobic assault

    A 22-year-old man in Glasgow was attacked whilst walking with a friend on Kersland Street near to Great Western Road in the early morning on Wednesday. His friend was allegedly subjected to homophobic abuse by another man who they did not know.

    The attack comes just a week before Glasgow Pride which is due to take place in the city centre.

    When the victim tried to intervene he was reportedly attacked by the suspect. The victim was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where his injuries were treated.

    The suspect is described as white and in his early 20s and wearing a black top with black tracksuit bottoms.

    He was accompanied by a woman in her early 20s, 5ft6 in height and with shoulder length blonde hair.

    They were last seen walking east along Great Western Road.

    Detective Constable Stuart McDonald from Drumchapel CID said,

    “This despicable individual not only subjected an innocent man to homophobic abuse, but also assaulted his friend when he came to his aid.

    “This type of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and I would appeal to anyone who either witnessed the incident, or saw the man and woman described above, to please get in touch.”

    Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Drumchapel CID via 101 and quote incident number 0268 of Wednesday 9th August 2017.

    Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.