THEGAYUK

Tag: Scotland News

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

  • Here’s what’s totally gay at Edinburgh Fringe in 2024

    Here’s what’s totally gay at Edinburgh Fringe in 2024

    There’s a whole lot of gay going down at Edinburgh this year, here’s our top picks for what LGBTQ+ people should look out for whilst out at the fringe.

    Stephanie Martin (Juniper and Jules; Joy) who is bringing her new comedy DID YOU MEAN TO FALL LIKE THAT? about expectations we place on ourselves through the lens of modern-day masculinity and the sexual as well as personal awakenings that might arise when life hasn’t quite gone according to plan. In this one-man show, James McGregor (Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, The Palace Theatre; Pride, Pathé) will take on the role of Charlie, who is on a journey of healing whilst rejecting the pressures from society and embracing sexual fluidity.

    WHERE AND WHEN: Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker 3), Wednesday 31st July – Monday 26th August 2024, 11:35

    PILLOCK has ADHD and is trying to keep his head above water, but he is drowning in loneliness, hook-up culture and medical role-plays. Then he meets Eugene – but will he be Mr Right or Mr Right Now? Pillock wants to trust his gut, but with his lactose intolerance, his can’t even handle a Muller Corner. Capturing the essence of the ADHD experience, Pillock is a darkly hilarious coming-of-age remix following a young man who is struggling with ADHD while dreaming of something bigger and wanting more from life.

    WHERE AND WHEN: Assembly George Square (Front Room), 1st – Monday 26th August 2024, 18:25

    SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT explores queer friendship, platonic love and nuclear anxiety, following Jo and Eddie through the first seven minutes of their friendship – and the final seven hours of the world. With most queer stories on stage and screen focussed around romance, Love Song Productions set out to fill the gap by making a show about queer friendship. While female friendship is often written about, very few stories have been told about the unique dynamic between queer men and women when the possibility of attraction is taken away.

    WHERE AND WHEN: Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker One), Wednesday 31st July – Monday 26th August 2024 (not 7th, 14th, 21st), 11.45am

    A new play by Rachel E. Thorn, which was longlisted for the Kenneth Branagh Award, is coming to Pleasance Courtyard this Edinburgh Fringe festival, and it’s all about the utter selfishness of true love. ME FOR YOU tackles the fundamental paradox of modern life – we want to be good people but we’re just so bloody self-absorbed. The play is about a gay couple who join Extinction Rebellion in a bid to save the planet. In the process, they have to face the fact that we do good things for personal gain. After all, what could be more selfish than being in love?

    WHERE AND WHEN: Pleasance Courtyard (The Green), Thursday 1st – Saturday 25th August 2024 (not 7th and 13th), 18:10

    THINGS BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH is a psychological thriller that depicts the aftermath of a widow discovering her husband’s affair and murder through a book written by their close friend, exposing everything to the whole world. From a global majority perspective of East Asian culture, LGBTQ rights may seem integrated to Western countries, but elsewhere, a profound stigma persists. Things Between Heaven and Earth delves into the persistent taboo surrounding homosexual relationships, prevalent not only in the 64 countries that still criminalise them but also within immigrant communities locally.

    WHERE AND WHEN: Underbelly Bristo Square (Jersey), Thursday 8th – Monday 26th August (not 13th), 13:00

    With six actors, six roles and one story – There are hundreds of combinations for the audience to choose as they direct the love story of the summer. REJECT ME ALREADY provides a space of endless possibilities with pairing across gender and sexuality. From newcomer Paul Richard Keegan comes this light-hearted yet sincere romcom that gives the audience the chance to develop the characters and story and build the world around them, even as they watch.

    WHERE AND WHEN: Greenside (Lime Studio), Friday 2nd – Saturday 24th August, 19.40

    IN DEFIANCE OF GRAVITY: Ezra Montefiore is the greatest psychic to have ever lived. He’s a master of the séance, telekinesis, and spirit summoning. Eyewitnesses swear he can raise the dead, heal the sick, and levitate 70 feet into the air. He defies all scientific explanations. But when an unexpected encounter with Prince Felix Yusupov catapults Ezra into the world of Russia’s aristocracy, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous game of power, seduction, and political intrigue. As rumours of his affair with both the prince and his wife reach the ears of Rasputin, Ezra faces an impossible choice: denounce himself as a fraud or commit political murder.

    WHERE AND WHEN: Summerhall (Demonstration Room), 1 Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1PL. Thursday 1st August –Monday 26thAugust 2024(not 12th, 19th), 21:15

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  • 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.

  • Are there gay cruising grounds in Edinburgh?

    Are there gay cruising grounds in Edinburgh?

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

    Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh, and they’re a hangover from more homophobic times in the UK. At our last count, there were at least 7 known cruising grounds in Edinburgh and surrounding areas. The most popular are Sliverknowes Promenade and Blackford Hill.

    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 Edinburgh

    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.

  • Where Can I Buy Poppers In Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh, you might find that your pickings are rather short, but there are a few high locations that you can try out.

    Firstly, Qstore can be found in the city at 5 Barony Street, EH3, 6PD. There’s also Private Lines, which is located at 60 Elm Rw, EH7 4AQ.

    You can also try the local gay sauna, one is called The Pound which is located at 5 Broughton Market, Phone number: 0131 477 3567.

    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 Edinburgh?
    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?

    Edinburgh has a number of LGBT+ / gay venues including Sauna and Bars in the Edinburgh area.

  • Music ban “nail in the coffin” for gay bars in Scotland

    Music ban “nail in the coffin” for gay bars in Scotland

    A well-known LGBT+ bar in Aberdeen has called the decision to ban background music in hospitality venues a “nail in the coffin” and urgently called for a review into allowing music back in venues in Scotland.

    In a statement, Cheerz Bar in Aberdeen wrote, “We’ve gone from a party venue with Drag, DJ’s and Karaoke 7 Days a week, 365 Days a year to still be functional with table ordering and background music but recent changes in government legislation has stopped this in an effort to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.”

    It also called for urgent help for the hospitality sector from both the Scottish and UK government. It said that the lack of support for bars and nightclub was “deeply disappointing”.

    The ban on background music was introduced by the Scottish Government on the 14th of August.

    The lack of music could lead to people avoiding bars altogether

    In the statement Cheerz owners laid out how they believed the ban on music would affect its customers’ behaviour, saying,
    ” – Customers will now get closer to have private conversations.

    – Customers will speak louder because music will no longer disperse the sound of other tables.

    – Customers will be more inclined to party at other households with music.

    Massive losses for hospitality sector

    Cheerz noted how businesses in the hospitality sector have sustained massive losses, due to “stock wastage, rental costs, water rates, equipment charges”.

    On top of this, Cheerz bar says it was sent a bill from Aberdeen City Council, looking for its annual licensing fees.

    “We are trying our hardest to keep our doors open at this time but ultimately we need to save our team’s jobs and our venue”, the statement added.

    “We’ve made it 10 years, and we hope to make it for another 10+ but this now depends on the actions of the Government.

  • TODAY IN GAY HISTORY | John Barrowman kisses a man during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

    TODAY IN GAY HISTORY | John Barrowman kisses a man during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

    Considering that homosexuality is banned in the majority of Commonwealth nations John Barrowman‘s gay kiss certainly raised a few eyebrows back in 2014.

    During a live performance in Scotland for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, actor and singer John Barrowman grabs a dancer in a kilt and kisses him in front of millions of viewers around the world.

    Although the kiss is brief, it’s a pivotal moment, as it’s never been done before during the opening ceremony, which has a global audience of millions. At the time 40 of 53 nations in the Commonwealth have laws against homosexuality. There are still around 35 countries where same-sex relationships are illegal.

    The kiss mirrored a number of other same-sex kisses that have happened during a live TV broadcast. In 2012, the Eurovision showed two same-sex kisses during its live broadcast, and during the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, the first lesbian kiss ever on a British soap was replayed.

    The Barrowman 2014 kiss causes quite an uproar on social media, dividing viewers on whether the action was appropriate.

    Watch the moment John kisses a dancer here.

  • Homophobic hate crime continues to soar in Scotland

    Instead of going down, homophobic hate crime continues to grow in Scotland.

    Despite having some of the most progressive policies in the UK for LGBT+ people, crimes against gay and bi people, or people perceived to be LGB have continued to rise in Scotland.

    Hate crime reports against LGB people are now at their highest level since 2010.

    24 per cent rise in charges for homophobic crime

    In the period between 2019 and 2020, there were 1486 total homophobic hate crime charges brought. In 2018 to 2019 there were 1194 – an increase of 292 charges for the current year, which is equal to a 24 per cent rise. Last year the rise was five per cent. Meaning that crimes against gay, lesbian and bi people has ballooned in Scotland.

    Eighty-four per cent of the charges were taken to court. One per cent of the charges did not make it to court. Nine of the cases could not proceed because there was insufficient admissible evidence.

    Transgender hate crime also increased, with one additional charge brought in the period of 2019-2020. Last year there were 40 charges, this year there have been 41 charges. A decrease since a high in 2017/2018 when charges reached 52.

    “Disappointing and, frankly, embarrassing”

    Talking to THEGAYUK about the new stats, MP Mhairi Black said,

    “It is extremely disappointing and, frankly, embarrassing that homophobic hate crimes are still on the rise in Scotland.

    “I hope, though I’m not necessarily hopeful, that these numbers indicate a greater number of people coming forward about the homophobic abuse they receive rather than the number of crimes actually increasing, but no matter which way you look at it this is a disgusting situation for a modern country to find itself in.”

  • Woman dies after drinking bottle of poppers

    Woman dies after drinking bottle of poppers

    People. Please don’t drink poppers.

    Despite the fact that all bottles of poppers sold in the UK come with a warning not to drink the contents, one woman in Scotland, unfortunately, downed one and died shortly after.

    It is thought that she assumed the bottle was an alcohol miniature, when a friend handed her a bottle that he had purchased from a local store.

    She became seriously ill, fast

    The woman, from Angus, was handed the bottle from a male friend who bought two bottles from their local off-license. It is thought that she then drank the content of a bottle of XL Gold before becoming seriously ill and dying shortly after. XL Gold is a popular room aroma, which gives a head rush when inhaled.

    CREDIT: TheGayUK

    She fell ill and died the same day, according to The Metro

    [totalpoll id=”120536″]

    Poppers sold and marketed in the UK are legal to purchase, however they are not sold for human consumption. Many people, of course, huff or inhale directly from the bottle and it gives a quick headrush – and often causes a mild headache.

  • LGBT education charity reveals horrific and sustained homophobic attacks on social media

    LGBT education charity reveals horrific and sustained homophobic attacks on social media

    The Scottish Time For Inclusive Education (TIE) Charity has outlined some of the attacks its volunteers and founders have had to deal with.

    In a horrifying thread on Twitter, the TIE campaign has revealed the extent of abuse it has received from bigots on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. The charity said it had also been a victim of a campaign of lies about its work “to damage its reputation”.

    https://twitter.com/tiecampaign/status/1276931788103921664

    The charity, which is based in Scotland, says it has been receiving attacks via social media platforms for months because they are an LGBT charity working with schools, teachers and educations.

    The charity’s primary goal is to tackle “prejudice-based bullying” and to provide schools and educators with sessions on gender stereotypes/equalities and resources which help educators include LGBT+ people in the curriculum.

    However, for months, volunteers say they have been targetted with “hurtful and dangerous posts and messages from “individuals who appear to be opposed to LGBT themes being included within education” an attack the charity describes as unprecedented.

    “Paedophiles, child abusers, groomers”

    The posts include defamatory and homophobic rhetoric, which has made volunteers concerned for their safety.

    Speaking about the threats, a statement from the charity said,

    “For decades, the LGBT community has been subject to homophobic propaganda which paints us as a threat to children by claiming that we are paedophiles, child abusers, groomers. Until recently, we believed we had moved on from those dark days. Sadly this is not the case online.”

    “They are trying to cause faux outrage & jeopardising our safety”

    The co-founder’s own child was used in this smear campaign and pictures of the child were used across social media with the slogan “Say no to the indoctrination and sexualisation of our children”.

    The charity says, “All of this is, obviously, untrue. We know a thing or two about LGBT history, so we understand that this is tactical homophobia: to throw as much mud as you can, & hope it tarnishes the org. They are trying to cause faux outrage & jeopardising our safety in the process….

    “The truth is that some of these individuals are anti-LGBT. Others, however, have simply chosen to target us because we are trans-inclusive in our work. All of this started when proposals to reform the GRA (Gender Recognition Act) became a prominent topic of discussion on Twitter.”

    Twitter is a particular problem

    TIE also pointed out that Twitter was a particularly problematic platform for them stating,

    “This platform, in particular, is a problem. LGBT people and charities are regularly called groomers, paedophiles, abusers. This is unacceptable and horrific. @TwitterSupport needs to do more about this.

    Twitter is a platform where homophobic and transphobic language is used constantly. Research THEGAYUK uncovered in 2018 showed that words such as “faggot” “dyke” and “no homo” are used millions of time a year.

    The charity has said that it has taken legal advice.

  • Scotland to become the first in the UK to put LGBT+ history into lessons

    Scotland to become the first in the UK to put LGBT+ history into lessons

    Scotland‘s schools will offer LGBT+ history as it becomes the first nation in the world to add the struggle for equality in the LGBT+ community on its curriculum.

    The EdinburghLive website is reporting that from 2021, schools in Scotland will teach LGBT+ history in its schools and include subjects surrounding equality and identity.

    Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary John Swinney said “Scotland is already considered one of the most progressive countries in Europe for LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex] equality.

    “I am delighted to announce we will be the first country in the world to have LGBTI inclusive education embedded within the curriculum.”

    Across age groups and subjects

    It is hoped that lessons will be taught to a wide variety of age groups and across various subjects. The lessons will tackle inequalities faced by LGBT+ people as well as homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

    Rising Homophobia

    Although Scotland may be leading the way in bringing much-needed education on LGBT issues, statistics released in 2020 from the Hate Crime In Scotland report showed that charges in relation to homophobic hate crime increased by 5 per cent in the 2018/19 period compared to the year before.

    Meanwhile, transphobic hate crimes in the same period had decreased by 23 per cent.

    The rest of the UK?

    Parkfield Primary became a flashpoint for demonstrators from religious backgrounds against teaching LGBT+ equality.

    In England, lessons taught under the “No outsiders” banner to Primary school-aged children, which included LGBT+ elements were met with a huge backlash in England last year.

    Parents removed hundreds of children from at least two schools after they said they had not been informed or consulted about the lessons.

    The lessons led to mass protests outside the primary schools. Eventually, the protesters were banned from demonstrating outside schools. In November 2019, a judge ruled that parents, mainly from an Islamic background, but included members from other religious backgrounds, would not be able to protest outside a school in Birmingham.