Here in the UK, we take a lot of content for granted. It’s not our fault, most of us have been brought up on a diet of free, advert-free, tv, radio and news, thanks to the BBC. But we have to change this.
As one wise puppet once said, “The internet is for porn” and he was right, it’s everywhere. It’s all over social media and there are millions of sites across the web, devoted to one of the nation’s favourite pastimes. Porn. But what is keeping this industry afloat?
There was a time when if you wanted to look at nude people doing it, (and you weren’t able to tune into Eurotrash on Channel 4) you’d have to buy a magazine, then there was the birth of the VHS and then the DVD, which revolutionised the industry and made it very successful, but like the music and magazine industry, porn’s physical products have been supplanted by the digital revolution. An entity that has turned all our passions, from music to film into bytes that no one has really managed to monetise successfully, when compared to the physical product world.
Getting access to porn is ridiculously easy and for the most part free to view and for most of us is as easy as logging on to social media.
There are plenty of free sites that offer HD videos of people going at it – and that’s great but when the end user isn’t paying for it, what happens to the creators of the content we enjoy?
People need to be paid for their performances. Editors need to be paid for their art, the photographers, the directors and all the people involved need to earn their living – and if that happens to be inside the porn industry, we should be supporting that.
For something that is pretty much in all our lives is it too much to ask that you set aside £10 a month for a subscription of your favourite studio or even star on their own OnlyFans channel?
Falcon Studios has reported on social media that one of its stars, Jay Dymel has passed away after reportedly being placed on life support in hospital. He worked with the studios Falcon and Naked Sword during 2019 – his latest scene was released on Naked Sword last week.
Falcon Studios took to social media to write, “It is with great sadness to inform the passing of @jay_dymel today! Our thoughts go out to Jay’s family, friends and partner @RyanStoneXxX”
The cause of his death is unknown, although it is known that the performer was in hospital and placed on life support before his death. He had been active on social media up to three days before being in a coma, when he was celebrating Pride Month with his partner Ryan Stone.
Ryan wrote a heartbreaking message on Twitter following the news of Jay’s death saying, “Words can not describe what is going through my head. I just want him to come back.
“I want him to be next to me when I wake up. I want to kiss him. I want to hug him and I just want him. I love you, baby, you’re everywhere. In everything I do. Everyday”.
With the UK Tory government pressing ahead with its porn ban, we asked Alastair Graham, Chair of the Age Verification Providers Association and CEO of AgeChecked on what we should know before the ban comes into place in July.
New rules mean that you will have to prove you are over the age of 18 – and be on a database, in order to view porn from mid-July. Users will need to, from 15th July 2019, prove that they are over the age of 18 with official documents such as a driver’s license, passport or an age verification card. One of the systems in place is called the AgeID system another is called AVSecure. Alastair Graham, Chair of the Age Verification Providers Association and CEO of AgeChecked answers some questions on what you’ll need to do come mid-July.
How will the porn ban work?
Whenever a UK IP address attempts to access a website with age-restricted content, the user will have to verify they are over 18. They will not be able to view explicit content until they have proven their age.
The onus of implementing such checks will fall on individual pornographic websites. Given that the government has not created its own verification system for websites to use, website operators will need to choose from a number of different age-checking software services on the market.
There are variations between suppliers with regards to how each company will verify customers. AgeChecked, for example, works by allowing customers to confirm their age securely via an anonymous username and password. In order to get the username and password, users must first age verify themselves. They can choose from a range of methods, utilising a mobile app, credit card or driving licence.
Each time the user logs on to the website in question, they will not have to re-verify themselves in order to access it. Instead, they simply sign in as normal and they will be granted instant access. This way, compliant age checks can be carried out without disrupting the user’s journey.
Three key myths
“My data will be hacked or leaked”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the incoming legislation has triggered privacy fears. Will porn companies be able to link people’s identities to their porn preferences? This is a very valid concern.
The only way sure-fire way to avoid highly sensitive data leaking is to make sure that such data is not created in the first place. In this respect, it’s vital that all age verification systems are third-party providers (and not in any way affiliated with the porn sites themselves.)
AgeChecked never stores personal information on its users and credentials are completely anonymised. When a user tries to access an age-restricted website or service, the website will only receive a simple ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ alert – nothing more.
“It’s just a censorship tool”
The whole point of the new age verification regulations is simply to prevent children from stumbling across pornographic content; these measures will not have any control over what content adults can and cannot view.
“People can bypass the system”
Online age verification works by implementing barriers that make it as difficult as possible for young children to stumble upon inappropriate or damaging adult content.
Of course, there will always be a minority that tries to undermine these barriers, which is unfortunate but unavoidable. That’s why it’s so important that age-gating software does not work in silo; but rather plays a role in an overall solution. Underage access to adult content is a problem that needs support from both parents and government to be properly tackled going forward.
Looking ahead
Overall, while it is easy to become fixated on the pros and cons of the upcoming porn ban, what people need to remind themselves of is the core purpose of this legislation – to protect and prevent vulnerable youngsters from needlessly stumbling across this graphic, damaging content.
AgeChecked is just one of the companies which will be able to verify users’ ages.
New rules mean that you will have to prove you are over the age of 18 – and be on a database, in order to view porn from mid-July.
Anyone who is watching porn via a British IP address will have to prove they’re of legal age to watch the content from mid-July. The new legislation has many critics concerned about privacy protection. The House of Commons passed the issue quietly on Monday, 17th December 2018.
Users will need to, from 15th July 2019, register on porn sites with official documents such as a driver’s license, passport or an age verification card. One of the systems in place is called the AgeID system another is called AVSecure.
The law means that you have to prove you are over the age of 18 before you can access porn sites in the UK and is part of the Digital Economy Act. The rules will apply to any website or platform which offers porn on a “commercial basis”.
Sites that do not keep a database of its users and their ages maybe blocked to users in the UK.
Advocates for the new rules hope that the measures will protect children from online porn.
However, despite its intentions to protect children from accessing porn, the new law will not stop minors from being able to view unlawful content on social media.
Plans are being made to make “porn passes” available at local newsagents, which will allow people in the UK who want to watch porn to bypass inputting personal data which proves their age to various porn sites, according to The Independent. It is a way in which people can access porn anonymously once the new law comes into force.
Buying a “porn pass” means that you will have to hand over personal information to your local newsagent, who will be able to issue you with an anonymous pass, which will allow you access to adult sites in the UK.
He added, “I want to know good & damn well what kind of worth your boyfriend or husband has when he’s watching it”, before pointing out that all men watch porn.
He then proceeded to record a video, which he titled, “You are not better than porn stars”, explaining his thoughts further saying, “So many of you wanna say that porn stars and myself, that we really don’t have “true self esteem beause we do porn.
“I wanna know what makes you better than the bitch on the other side of the screen. Because even if you don’t personally watch porn I know your man does.
“Single men watch it, married men watch it, all men do. So because a bitch is on the other side of the screen doing a job you probably don’t wanna do, which is get him off – when you’re sick, your stomach hurts, you’re on your period, you got diarrhoea.
“If anything you should be thankful to the porn stars because we keep y’all from having to suck that dick when you don’t feel like it. Honey”.
Before adding, “Bitch get that bible thumping, moralistic sh*t the f**k out of here…It’s 2019, get to flicking that bean bitch…”
Respect
Fans were quick to thank Chris for his rant, with one writing, “THIS. THANK YOU. Also, thank you so much for using your platform to stick up for yourself and the rest of us. We really appreciate you from the bottom of our hearts. Have since 2007”.
Another added, “Especially keeps them from cheating or going to do their secrets kinks someplace else”
One fan responded, “Also, lots of us queers ladies watch it. Porn performers are fantastic & I wish they (and sex workers in general) got the respect they deserve.”
The video has been watched in excess of 112,000 times and liked over 1,600 times by his fanbase.
YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING
Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.
We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.
It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.
It’s one of life’s little mysteries. How do porn stars stay hard for so long, especially when there are lots of people watching, so much expectation and well, let’s say, repeated use…
(C) BIGSTOCK
Shooting a porn takes a long time, there are loads of things to think about… angles, lighting, press shots, pack shots for the DVD (who still buys porn DVDs?). The lists go on, but the performers have to stay hard – sometimes for hours on end. So how do they do it?
Firstly there are the oral meds that performers can take. Viagra for instance.
Pornstar Michael McLachlan told us, “Yes, of course, we take pills to help us get hard and stay hard during filming. Some scenes can take 3 hours some can take 5 hours. We have to do all the still images and promotional images that day also for DVD covers etc. So yeah we need something to sustain an erection while taking photos and no sexual stimulation is happening. We aren’t magicians. Though some guys can fit a lot up their ‘sleeve’”.
Some guys take it one step further and use injectables, directly into their penises, which can cause erections without arousal. An “anonymous” legal rep for a gay porn star told Quora users, “Liquid ED drugs are injected straight into the penis. It lasts for 6-8 hours.
Fluffers?
Remember the term “fluffers”, well apparently studios used to hire someone specifically to get the guy ready and up before the scene’s start.
Our anon legal rep continues, “… and fluffers were used to keep male actors hard. Before you ask, a fluffer is a male or female who fellates (gives oral sex) the actor’s penis just long enough to keep it aroused. In the 70s and 80s were actually hired and regularly paid to be “at the ready”
Then there are the pumps. Pumps aren’t used that often because overusing them can actually be dangerous, and could lead to bust a blood vessel in the peen. Not nice.
Then there’s always editing. You know a scene might last more than a day. The stars may actually cum quite early on in the day and then come back to it, later on, to do different angles and positions later on in the day.
Mark Myers, a sexual health expert on Quora said, “Porn stars may last longer than the average man, but a lot of what you see in porn is not “real”.
For example, directors shoot multiple takes and lots of footage just to create one 20 minute scene.
“Still, it’s reasonable to assume that male porn stars train themselves to last longer by practising deep breathing, frequently changing positions (and sometimes exercising during sex), and of course, lots of practice.”
YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING
Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.
We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.
It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.
New rules mean that you will have to prove you are over the age of 18 in order to view porn from April 2019.
Anyone who is watching porn via a British IP address will have to prove they’re of legal age in legislation which has critics concerned about privacy protection. The House of Commons passed the issue quietly on Monday, 17th December.
Users will need to, from April 2019, register on porn sites with official documents such as a driver’s license, passport or an age verification card. One of the systems in place is called the AgeID system another is called AVSecure.
The law means that you have to prove you are over the age of 18 before you can access porn sites in the UK and is part of the Digital Economy Act. The rules will apply to any website or platform which offers porn on a “commercial basis”.
Advocates for the new rules hope that the measures will protect children from online porn.
However, despite its intentions to protect children from accessing porn, the new law will not stop minors from being able to view unlawful content on social media.
Plans are being made to make “porn passes” available at local newsagents, which will allow people in the UK who want to watch porn to bypass inputting personal data which proves their age to various porn sites, according to The Independent. It is a way in which people can access porn anonymously once the new law comes into force.
Buying a “porn pass” means that you will have to hand over personal information to your local newsagent, who will be able to issue you with an anonymous pass, which will allow you access to adult sites in the UK.
To become even more “welcoming” Starbucks is going to start blocking porn from its WIFI
(C) DEPOSITPHOTOS
Your ability to watch a creampie and eat a creampie at Starbucks is going to be halted in 2019 after the mega coffee chain claims to have to sourced a “solution” that will “prevent this content (porn) from being viewed” at its US locations from next year.
A spokesperson for the company said, “To ensure the Third Place [Starbucks’ coffee shops] remains safe and welcoming to all, we have identified a solution to prevent this content from being viewed within our stores and we will begin introducing it to our US locations in 2019”.
<
div id=”qp_all2168564″ style=”width: 100%; max-width: 600px;”>
While we think this is probably a good idea, Jake Hook, THEGAYUK‘s editor warned that Starbuck must make sure it doesn’t block safe content from LGBT sites, saying, “Starbuck must ensure that it doesn’t inadvertently block LGBT content from valid news sources such as ours”, Jake Hook editor of THEGAYUK.com said today.
However, speaking on CNN a Starbuck spokesperson said that it was working to ensure that the censoring tool doesn’t “block unintended content.”
A new way of getting new music to the masses or just music to chill to?
RealityDudes have released their latest scene, (starring muscular hunk Dustin Steele and buff babe Julian Knowles) except, slightly unusual we think, as the website, WeLoveGayPorn.com (NSFW) has pointed out they’ve used an actual song as the sound bed for the scene.
Now, there was a time when most porns had a cheesy euro dance track behind the action, but lately, most studios just go with the sweet sweet sounds of the plunge and an occasion “ah yeahhh… f**k yeahhh etc etc”.
So naturally, we were inquisitive as to the song and the singer, if you’re wondering it’s an Andy Powell track called, “Pretty Little Lies” featuring Linda Roan. It was released in 2017. Stream it here
What do you think? A good addition to the action or a slightly creepy distraction?
Wanna check out the porn promo? Click here (NSFW obviously)
Leading Psychotherapist and Founder of Natural supplement brand Eudaemon Jane Barnfield Jukes reveals what you can do to step towards an addiction-free life.
(C) BIGSTOCK
The comedienne, Hannah Gadby in one of her sketches asks “Why is it that from birth men and women are assigned to opposing teams? Pink and blue.”
The societal norms created around sexuality are simply not fit for purpose. If you don’t belong to either team, the path of discovery you find yourself on can be full of cracks and potholes. Tripping over these obstacles can result in feelings of deep insecurity, anxiety and conflict. People struggle with “not knowing.” Until society addresses and accepts the diversity inherent in the population, people will experience the suffering associated with “Who am I?” and “Where do I fit?” When caught in this struggle it can be quite tempting to turn to drugs and alcohol to help ease the strain.
Over the years research has led to the creation of certain beliefs around substance misuse and addiction. Some believe that it plays a role in our “life script.” Others feel that is used as a crutch to numb the pain and anxiety they feel. More recently others state that it can be viewed as an attachment issue – we become attached to the substance as it can never leave and will always be there for us.
Whatever the reasons they are certainly complex and are personal to each us.
What we, as therapists, have noticed when working with members of the LGBT community is that aspects of this environment can present our clients with even more of a challenge on their road to recovery.
Some say the LGBT community has a more hedonistic culture with less clearly defined boundaries. Less restraints may lead to more risk-taking behaviour in turn leading to shame and regret, often turning to substances to help alleviate the discord this conflict brings. Once addicted the prevalence of drugs and alcohol in the LGBT community can make kicking the habit very difficult. In addition, it can be hard to find the willpower to refrain from substance misuse as often the strongest attachments and bonds are with people who have the same exposure to this vibrant environment.
Famous sociologist, Helen Fischer, suggests that some drugs mimic the same reaction in the brain as being in love – a strong attachment in and of itself. Some substances certainly take away our inhibitions and help us feel like we are more “ourselves.”
A widely used term these days is self-medicating. A more positive view of this might be that people are merely searching, trying to help themselves find relief.
(C) BIGSTOCK
Here are some helpful tips to help you help yourself
You might want to find an experienced therapist familiar with addiction issues who, in a non-judgemental environment, will help you work out what is going on with you, help you to take responsibility and encourage you to be honest with yourself. You may find your conscious mind may very much want to change your addictive behaviours, but your unconscious mind might have very different ideas. Psychologists call this the paradoxical injunction. Therapeutic intervention may help you place your conscious mind in the driver’s seat and enable you to take control.
Set realistic goals for yourself defined by you and not society.
Delegate to the page – keep a diary that way you can recognise triggers and helpful, as well as hindering, behaviours. You might find it helpful to keep and a detailed and honest drink diary.
Try engaging in groups that refrain from substance misuse.
Developing a bank of poems, mantras and mindfulness techniques that you can turn to in stressful times can be helpful.
Find a substance abuse group.
Engage in meaningful activities – make a difference.
Most importantly when trying to abstain or cut down on substances should a slip or relapse occur be kind to yourself. Don’t engage in catastrophic thinking – we would encourage you to reframe it as a slip or bump in the road on your path to a healthier way of being.
it seems that even a royal wedding can get people off…
Although traffic for one of the world’s leading porn sites, PornHub, decreased by a whopping 21 percent in the UK, it seemed as though some people had only one thing on their minds during Prince Harry and Megan’s nuptials.
David Beckham.
That’s right, searches for a naked David Beckham boomed by 3440 percent during the royal wedding. However, it was his wife that won this particular Beckham popularity contest, Victoria Beckham searches soared by 4213 percent.
According to PornHub, across the United Kingdom, traffic during the ceremony was down -21% in England, -19% in Wales, -15% in Scotland and -14% in Northern Ireland. Traffic remained below average throughout the rest of the day, with a further drop of -17% in England around 5pm.
They were also surprised to see that France was the country with the biggest traffic drop of -23% during the ceremony. Traffic in Chile was down -20%, -19% in Italy and -18% in New Zealand, The Netherlands and Turkey. Commonwealth countries Australia and Canada were down -17% and -16% respectively.
So there you have it, who knew that weddings could be a wankfest.
