THEGAYUK

Tag: UK

  • Fundraising Evening Raises Emergency Funding For HIV Patients

    Over £1,000 has been raised to provide emergency nonclinical support for members of the Bloomsbury Patient Network at a Robert Grace Trust fundraising evening.

    For the last five years donations from the charity have provided support for patients of the Bloomsbury Clinic – one of the largest HIV clinics in Europe.

    The £1,100 raised will support patients in need at times of crisis and to help them engage in their care. Some items that have been purchased in the past include groceries, powdered milk for babies, school uniforms, beds, mattresses, fridges, cookers and hostel accommodation. The fund also subsidises travel and child care so that patients can attend the Bloomsbury Network’s events.

    Christopher Sandford, Patient Representative at the Bloomsbury Clinic, said,

    “The emergency fund is designed to help people when they have no-one else to turn to in times of crisis. If someone cannot afford to eat, or has nowhere to live, or can’t send their children to school, can’t afford the fares to attend the clinic, then you can’t expect people to take their medication effectively and stay healthy.

    “We are grateful to the Robert Grace Trust for their continued support of our work. So many people’s lives have been filled with hope thanks to the fund.”

    Attendees enjoyed wine and nibbles as the speakers – Patricia Pearson, Chair of the Robert Grace Trust; Dr Laura Waters, Consultant Physician at the Bloomsbury Clinic; and Christopher Sandford – discussed recent developments in HIV treatment and the difference the emergency fund has made.

    Sean, a patient who volunteered at the fundraiser, said:

    “I just wanted to say how moved and proud I was listening to the presentations. When I think back to that first year of diagnosis there was so much to adjust to and joining the Bloomsbury Network has meant everything to me in terms of keeping me healthy, stable and supported. That is thanks to the incredible work that the Patient Representative Team does, building a supportive welcoming community. It is truly one of my favourite places to be. I was so moved listening to the stories from the emergency fund and so inspired by the idea of how the patient representatives are empowering so many people and transforming lives, including mine.”

    The Bloomsbury Patient Network, run by three patient representatives, offers peer support for people to live positively with their HIV diagnosis. They offer a range of social, educational and motivational events thought the year.

    Robert Grace was a South-African architect and a patient of the Bloomsbury Clinic. The Trust was founded in his memory after he passed away in 1987 to provide emergency support for patients and carers.

  • Powerhouse Gay ICON Angie Brown Wows Warwickshire Pride

    Powerhouse vocalist Angie Brown brought the house, well the field down, at yesterday’s Pride event in Warwickshire.

    The Pride which is in its third year, saw thousands of people coming together to celebrate LGBT diversity in Leamington Spa, with the message of “Drop The Label”. The headliner Angie Brown took to the stage to sing hit songs to a cheering crowd, including Why Waste Your Time. At one point jumping off the stage and joining the dancing spectators on the grass.

    One pride goer, James Newington, said: “She was just incredible. Love her, she’s such a gay icon.”

    Thousands of people turned up to the Pump Room Gardens in Warwickshire in the sunshine and enjoyed over 7 hours of entertainment.

    The Pride’s organiser, Dan Browne praised the volunteers and team who helped to put on the event and promiser of a big and better pride in 2016.

  • XFACTOR Wagner PLUGS Hair Transplant at PRIDE EVENT

    Last night the crowds at Warwickshire Pride were subjected to a hair plug and face lift sales pitch from past X FACTOR contestant Wagner.

    The former X FACTOR star received a number of boos from the audience at Warwickshire Pride as he plugged his hair plugs after singing a short set, throwing in a sales pitch for a non-surgical face-lift to the waiting crowd.

    The 58-year-old, wild-haired former PE teacher joked that the UK’s weather had knocked a “few tiles’ from his roof and that he had enlisted the help from a hair clinic to ensure that his famous long locks remained intact. He also proceeded to bring up two members of a beauty clinic who he said performed non-surgical face lifts.

    Wagner wears the t-shirt emblazoned with the logo of the hair clinic he claims helps him maintain his famous hair do.

    One Pride-goer remarked,

    “it was disgusting, he turned up performed for 20 minutes, tried to hock hair transplants and face lifts, the crowd weren’t very supportive. It felt like a live TV Ad!”

    Wagner, who usually wows audience with his outrageous costumes wore a simple white t-shirt baring the name of the hair clinic, joked with the crowd and sang a line from the Pussycat Doll’s hit, Don’t You Wish Your Boyfriend Was Hot Like Me.

     

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW: wonder.land, Manchester International Festival

    ★★★★ | wonder.land, Manchester International Festival

    Now in its tenth year, the Manchester International Festival is a biannual showcase for newly commissioned work by leading artists from all around the world.

    One of 2015’s biggest shows is wonder.land, a new musical featuring music by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz fame.

    wonder.land, a new take on the classic story of Alice In Wonderland, tells the story of Aly. Aly is a lonely teenage girl, recently moved to a new area after the bitter split of her parents. Bullied at school and feeling neglected by her mother due to her baby brother, one day she stumbles across wonder.land, a website promising escape into a virtual world. Creating an avatar called Alice, in this world, Ali makes new friends and some refuge from her loneliness until the day her headmistress, Ms. Manxome confiscates her mobile phone and she is denied access to the game. Before long, Aly finds herself fighting for her existence in the game after her identity is stolen and her virtual friends turn against her.

    The story of Alice in Wonderland has long been one of the most loved and iconic of children’s books. This version, with themes of online gambling addiction, bullying and fractured families is a fiercely contemporary adaption. Elements of the Lewis Caroll tale remain but with a modern twist. For example, the Mad Hatter becomes Matt Hatton, Aly’s recovering gaming addict dad with a history of mental illness.

    If this sounds all a bit worthy then luckily wonder.land has enough sly wit and playfulness to prevent it feel like a preachy night at the theatre. The innovative design, mixing 3 dimensional back projection with moveable sets creating the two different worlds of the show also added a huge amount of visual excitement.

    wonder.land is not without flaws. The music, a combination of traditional musical theatre orchestration and electronica is pleasant if not especially memorable and the big climatic showdown between Ali and the villainous Ms Manxome feels rather rushed. This is not to deny however that this is a bold, exciting and original piece of work.

    In a strong ensemble cast, it was Anna Francolini who was the performance of the evening as Ms Manxome, this version’s Red Queen. Ms Manxome is an old fashioned big barnstormer of a role that it’s very easy to see musical theatre actresses of a certain age fighting to play. Francolini attacks the part with swagger and enormous charisma.

    Special mention must also go to Rosalie Craig in the lead role of Ali, who brings huge quantities of vulnerability to her performance matched by a strong singing voice. Her complicated relationships with her parents and budding friendship with Luke, himself a target for homophobic bullying, are affecting and powerfully portrayed.

    For all it’s modern trappings, at its heart wonder.land is a story about family and the quest for self-esteem. Lewis Carroll purists may very well hate it but plenty other will relate to its warmth, wit and the timeless themes under the hi-tech surface.

    wonderland
    Palace Theatre, Manchester
    2nd to 12th July 2015

  • London Gay and Drag Pub Up For Sale

    After a spate of closures on London’s gay scene Molly Moggs is up for sale.

    The popular Molly Moggs pub on the corner of Old Compton Street and Charing Cross Road is apparently up for sale according to GayStarNews.
    The Alan Sugar owned pub’s leasehold is up for grabs for £275,000, however, the pub’s staff has not been told about the pub’s future.

    Molly Moggs is set in a listed building so only the leasehold is available to purchase and it is likely to remain a pub because of the licensing conditions, this is not a guarantee that it will remain a gay venue once new owners are found.

    According to GSN, the listing for the pub suggests, “An initial discreet viewing on a customer basis is required. Staff are unaware and should not be approached.”

    The London gay scene has seen a number of venues close. The Black Cap, The Joiners Arms, Barcode, The Green Carnation are just some of the businesses which have been shuttered in recent years.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Bend It Like Beckham

    ★★★★★ | Bend It Like Beckham

    Does a musical version of the hit film “Bend it Like Beckham” work? You bet it does!

    The plot from the film is successfully transformed into a fantastic singing and dancing musical with a clever set, memorable songs, superb costumes and an excellent cast.

    Natalie Dew is amazing as Jess, a young woman coming of age in a Sikh household in the Asian community of Southall, London in 2002. She loves the game of football, enough so that she’s got two large posters of David Beckham in her bedroom.

    One day Jess is spotted playing football by Jules (Lauren Samuels, playing the Keira Knightley role from the film) who plays for the Hounslow Harriers team. Jess goes along to one of the team’s practices where coach Joe (Jamie Campbell Bowen) takes in interest in her playing, as well as in her, and Jess decides to play for the team, without telling her parents. She knows that her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bhamra (Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke), will forbid her from playing the game that she absolutely loves.

    Coach Joe feels that Jess is good enough to make the England team, and along with Jules, they urge her to stay in the game, even after her parents do find out. Meanwhile, Jess’s older sister Pinky (Preeya Kalidas) is about to get married to a man whose family thinks that Pinky is not suitable for their son. But all Mr. and Mrs. Bhamra want is the best for their daughters, they worked hard and have provided a good life for them and they want them to continue to live, and follow, their traditional Sikh life. But Jesse has a dream, and she wants to play for England, but will her parents stop her from fulfilling this dream?

    To say Bend it Like Beckham is a feel good show is an understatement. From start to finish we are treated to a very vibrant and colourful spectacle, the likes which we haven’t seen in the West End in a long time. And the cast is perfect. Drew brings just the right amount of vulnerability and youthness to the role of Jess – it’s like the part was specifically written for her. Kalidas as Pinky brings the show punch, sass, and vavavoom. Jamel Andreas is very good as Jess’s best friend Tony who is perfect for Jess, perhaps too perfect. Other standouts include Sophie-Louise Dann as Jule’s blond mom, she’s sassy, funny and a blond bombshell. And Rekha Sawhney beautifully sings a traditional wedding song called, Sadaa Chardhdi Kalaa that will mesmerize you.

    Gurinder Chadha, who wrote and directed the movie, which is set in the pre 9/11 era, also wrote (with Paul Mayeda Berges) and directed this stage version. She’s captured the spirit of Jess and her love of the game that most British people can relate to, and has given us a show that at no point gets boring or drags – it’s dialogue is very witty yet very dramatic. And the whole cast do wonders with it, and with the set that changes from a shopping street, to Mr. and Mrs. Bhamra’s living room, to an actual football field, all cleverly done. And the show wouldn’t have the name ‘Beckham’ in it if he didn’t make an appearance. The actual David Beckham is NOT in the show, but a lookalike is (along with a Victoria Beckham lookalike).

    Let’s hope the real David Beckham goes to see it, he will absolutely love it.

    Bend it Like Beckham is playing at The Phoenix Theatre.

  • Welsh Lib Dems Say Transgender Action Plan Does Not Go Far Enough

    The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed the Welsh Government’s trans action plan, brought about by the party’s landmark debate, but says it falls short on many key issues.

    In November 2014, the Welsh Lib Dems led a landmark Assembly debate on issues faced by trans people in Wales – the first debate of its kind. The party’s motion, which was backed by the Welsh Government and all parties, called for action to improve the provision of public services for all Welsh trans people.

    The Transgender Action Plan, launched today for consultation by the Welsh Government, does not specifically mention provision for a gender identity clinic in Wales nor creation of LGBT+ safe housing – two key issued raised by Welsh Lib Dem AMs during the debate.
    Peter Black AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Equalities Minister, said:

    “I’m delighted that the Welsh Lib Dems’ landmark debate has resulted in positive action to improve the lives of trans people in Wales. However, there is much to be wanted from what’s been launched today.

    “During our debate, Welsh Lib Dem AMs raised specific concerns about the lack of a gender identity clinic and LGBT safe housing in Wales. Despite listening to these problems and promising to address them, there’s no specific mention of either issue in this document. We will be making our views on this clear as we respond to the consultation.

    “Labour Ministers seem more focused on ensuring inclusivity in the public services already provided, rather than addressing the gaps in trans-specific services where Wales falls short. While inclusivity is of course vital, I had hoped we’d see something a bit more ambitious from the Welsh Government.”

  • Out singer Duncan James Looks Hot In His Rainbow Glasses

    Former teen heartthrob and now fully-fledged man band god, Duncan James shows off his rainbow glasses at London’s gay pride.

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  • Man Dies At Gay Sauna In South London

    A man was pronounced dead at one of London’s most popular gay saunas last weekend.

    The unnamed man was pronounced dead at the Waterloo branch of Chariots by paramedics and is being treated as “non-suspicious” the Evening Standard reports.

    The Chariots group of saunas, which operates a zero tolerance on drugs, has four venues across London and describes itself as the “the UK’s biggest gay and bi-sexual men sauna group”.

    A source at the sauna said, the man had died of natural causes, “from a heart attack”. The man’s death was not related to drug usage.

    In February three men were taken to casualty after falling ill at the Vauxhall branch.

  • POLICE: “Appropriate And Proportional” Policing Plan Is In Place For Pride In London

    Police in London are on high alert today as up to 750,000 people are expected to turn out to take part and watch London’s Pride parade.

    London’s LGBT+ parade is due to take place just 24 hours after a number of terror attacks took place in Tunisia, Kuwait and France leaving question marks over the safety of the general public in crowded spaces in cities across the world.

    Extra security has been promised for Armed Forces day and the gay pride parade today in London, however spectators are being asked to be extra vigilant.

    The UK’s terror threat level is placed at Severe after ISIS claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Tunisia. The Sun newspaper is claiming that an Armed Forces Day parade in South London had been a target for ISIS. According to the paper a thwarted suicide blast was intended to strike at soldiers from Lee Rigby’s unit during today’s parade.

    According to The Mail, the Met Police’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball, said: “Our priority is to keep people safe and we continue to review our ability to prevent and respond to terrorist incidents and potential threats.

    “And as we approach a weekend of large public celebrations around the country, including Armed Forces Day events and Pride London, we will be putting in place additional security measures to help protect and reassure the public.’

    PARADE DETAILS
    The London LGBT parade will leave Baker Street at 1.00PM and end in Whitehall at 4:30PM.

    The Metropolitan Police report that they have been liaising with the organiser of this year’s Pride event for some months and that an appropriate and proportionate policing plan is in place.

    This year’s Parade is one of the biggest ever with over 250 groups registered to take part in the parade.

    Numerous worried members of the public have taken to social media to question the safety of London and the event.

    The Pride In London committee have commented that they have over 1000 stewards and have been working closely with the Met Police to ensure the safety of those attending the parade.

    Tweeting from their official Twitter account, they said, “All our usual precautions, and we work very closely with the @metpoliceuk to deliver a safe event.

    “Safety is our utmost priority, above all else.”

  • Reading’s Oldest Gay Bar Closes After ACRIMONIOUS Rent Review With Owners

    The oldest and only remaining gay bar in Reading, England has closed following, a lengthy and acrimonious rent review and lease renewal with the landlord, Star Pubs.

    A statement from the venue’s management on the Wynford Arms’ website placed the blame of the closure on high costs and rent increases from the pub’s owner Star Pubs to a “completely unrealistic level,” amongst other factors including the smoking ban and social media.

    The Wynford was the last remaining LGBT space in Reading after The Rising Sun closed in 2014. The Wynford is described as opening in October 1992 and “been there for the community 365 days a year since”.

    The cost of the battle has strained the management leaving the business reportedly in a poor financial position. Management also blamed, “the smoking ban, cheap supermarket alcohol, changes in people’s drinking habits, the increasing use of social media to meet people and the fact gay people generally feel comfortable drinking in many more establishments in Reading than used to be the case.”

    The Wynford has its last party on the 28th May.