THEGAYUK

Tag: UK

  • NEWS: Naked Rowers Show Cheek For Charity Calendar Against Homophobia

    Well it’s Thursday afternoon and a press release about NAKED rowers from Warwick University hits the newsdesk; of course, we’re going to share them with you.

    Gok’s tweeted about it, Boy George is on the team so to speak and Stephen Fry is a fan. This fearless rowing team from Warwick University have launched a crowdfunding campaign to produce a naked calendar to raise funds for their outreach program to tackle prejudice, bullying and homophobia throughout schools.

    Bravo boys!

    They are looking to raise £5000, it’s all for a good cause… dig deep readers

  • 10 Fantastic Places for A Great Gay Date in London

    There are all the typical things to do in London; the bridge, the tower, the eye, and so on, but what if you want to network with other gays and meet people to take. Perhaps you want to take your friend to a new or different place. Here are 10 places you may not have thought of before.

     

    The Underground Club

    Located under Central Station you will find the Underground Club where the speciality of the day is the dark and mysterious. There is always a hopping party crowd and live DJ. One the weekends there is a light show to go with whatever the theme is. The Underground offers a fun place to go after you visit Central Station. So make a night out of this visit.

     

    Hampstead Heath Ponds

    Located in North London is the Hampstead Heath Ponds, three large freshwater swimming points that are popular for same sex and mixed couples alike. For centuries people have been coming to the ponds for a relaxing dip in the waters. Take your partner to the ponds and have some wet fun. Let your playful side come out while enjoying an athletic dip.

     

    Central Station, Kings Cross

    Known as one of the best pubs around, Central Station is known for Sweet Wednesday and diverse clientele that include transvestites and transsexuals. This is a wonderful place to take your partner for a little fun, exploration and ale. Events include cabaret and theme nights and can be found on Wharfdale Road in London.

     

    Gay Supper Club – The Hope, London

    At The Hope, a pop up restaurant, you and your date can attend the Gay Supper Club where you will enjoy a gourmet meal prepared by a world renowned Michelin star chef. This is an intimate setting designed for gay men to get to know each other, network, socialize and make new friends. The event is organised and supported by the Grub Club & Urban Connections group. The aim of this event which will be held on June 19th, 2013 is to bring individuals together to hopefully find their soul mate. This is not speed-dating, each course is taken at a slow comfortable pace but you will rotate thought the restaurant to meet multiple people and intermingle. There is no age limit of dress code, so put this night on your calendar and plan for an impromptu chance to meet your one.

     

    Vauxhall

    Within London is an inner city known as Vauxhall. This is where you come if you are gay and you want to party all night or through the weekend. This area is filled with bars, taverns, nightclubs, raves and parties. Get out into the night air, and dress up in your sexiest gear, you are bound to meet new likeminded friends at places like The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, The Hoist, Fire, and Barcode Vauxhall. Don’t stop there, there is so much to do in this area, you and your partner could party round the clock all weekend long.

     

    Soho London

    If you’re looking for the fun, hip, diverse center of activity and fun, look no further than Soho London for your date. The atmosphere in Soho is contagious, pleasurable, and a must-see for your date. With live entertainment, unique cuisine, a pulsing nightlife, and celebrations like Pride London, this is where you want to spend your time to meet and network with fellow gay Londoner’s and tourist

     

    London Gay Men’s Chorus

    Do you have a song in your heart? Then you should join up with the guys at the London Gay Men’s Chorus to express yourself inner Sir Elton John and meet new friends. The choir is one of the largest most active groups for gay men in Europe. The mission is to entertain, educate, and inspire others through music while challenging the preconceptions of homosexuality. If you cannot sing, then sign up for their newsletter and attend their events, you might meet your next date who has the voice of an angel.

     

    Hackney City Farm

    Not every date is required to take place at a club or bar. For a bit of variety during the sunlight hours stop by the Hackney City Farm with your special one. Take a minute to feed the goats and donkeys and watch your partner melt as he cuddles a little bunny in his strong arms. There are weekend courses, classes in pottery and mosaics, or you could become volunteers. This is a great place to honor your need for animals and outdoors and show your variety to your partner.

     

    Broadway Market

    Get out and go to the market. In almost every city around the world, there is an outdoor fresh market. In the London, this is the Broadway Market. Start your Saturday with a date at the market with all tastes and cultures that will satisfy any palate or shopping need. You will find the Market between Regent’s Canal and London Fields. There is everything from food, handcrafted items, and clothing. Bring your partner, take in the fresh air, and pick up fresh ingredients for a late picnic at London Fields and a candlelight dinner at home.

     

    A London Fields Picnic

    In East London, you will find the idyllic London Fields Park situated at the end of the Broadway Market. Historically a pasture, the park is not the hub of activity in East London. You will find a cricket pitch, BMX track, swimming pool, tennis courts, and more. Bring your date here, pack a picnic and plan an activity that you will both enjoy. You are bound to be able to plan a fun, relaxing day with your love interest.

     

    There you have it a fine selection of civil and naughty places to take your hot date in the capital city perhaps you seduced your partner on the web or indulging in gay chat with hot men by phone on a line heaven forbid just in the real world in the local bar. Well after your great effort on securing your sexy dates time make sure it goes with a real bang and hit up London.

  • Overwhelming support for same-sex marriage

    Landslide support for Same Sex Marriage Bill in House of Commons, with the Bill passing its third reading by 366 votes to 161.

    MPs have again voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill. Moments ago the Bill passed its Third Reading vote in the House of Commons by 366 votes to 161 – a majority of 205. The Bill will extend the legal form of marriage to lesbian, gay and bisexual people and permit religious denominations to celebrate such marriages should they wish. It now heads to the House of Lords for debate in June.

    In a statement Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said,

    ‘This evening’s vote shows MPs are on the public’s side, as poll after poll shows a clear majority of people in Britain support equal marriage. Now that the Bill has cleared the Commons without any of the wrecking amendments tabled by opponents, we hope peers will show the same respect to public attitudes.

    ‘Sadly in recent weeks several peers have expressed deeply unpleasant views about gay people. Stonewall expects one of our toughest fights yet ahead of us. We’ll continue to work tirelessly every day to help secure this final modest measure of legislative equality.’

    The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill passed its Second Reading with a majority of 225 votes on 5 February. MPs rejected a wrecking amendment – by 375 votes to 70 – during the Bill’s Report Stage in the House of Commons on 20 May.

  • LGBT Helpline Scotland opens

    Brand new LGBT Helpline opens in Scotland.

    A brand new LGBT helpline, called LGBT Helpline Scotland, has opened in Edinburgh and is open every Tuesday and Wednesday from 12PM – 9PM and will offer help, information and support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community across Scotland

    Stephen McCabe, the co-ordinator for the helpline said,

    ‘I am delighted to announce that LGBT Helpline Scotland – Scotland’s first ever national helpline for LGBT people and their families, friends and supporters – will open next week on May 7th.

    ‘For some time we have identified the need for a national Scottish LGBT helpline, and thanks to funding from the Scottish Government we now have a team of fully trained volunteers ready to take calls when we launch next Tuesday.

    ‘Our volunteers are trained to answers calls relating to sexuality, gender identity, isolation, sex and sexual health, coming out, hate crime (we are able to report crimes over the phone via our Third Party Reporting Service), amongst other needs that LGBT people in Scotland may have.’

    To speak to a volunteer call 0300 123 2523

  • Gay marriage wrecking amendments fail

    Wrecking Amendments fail in marathon parliamentary debate on Gay Marriage.

    MPs in the House of Commons rejected an amendment tabled by those opposed to marriage equality, which would have prolonged further voting on the forthcoming bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the UK

    The amendment tabled by former families minister Tim Lougton MP, would have extended the option of civil partnerships to straight couples, which many supporters of same-sex marriage fear would delay or scupper the same-sex marriage bill altogether.

    The amendment was rejected by 375 votes to 70.

    Ben Summerskill from Stonewalls wrote in a statement,

    ‘The amendment, tabled by vocal opponents of equality, would have resulted in significant delays to the Bill’s implementation. Tonight’s (20th May) success means that the Bill has survived all of the attempts made thus far to undermine it.

    ‘Tomorrow (2st May) the Bill will have its Third Reading in the Commons before it heads to the House of Lords where, as always, we expect a very tough fight.”

    Equal Marriage and #AggressiveHomosexuals began trending on Twitter last night during the parliamentary debate after Sir Gerald Howarth MP, stated that,

    ‘…I fear the playing field is not being levelled I believe the pendulum is swinging so far the other way, and there are plenty in the aggressive homosexual community who see this as but a stepping stone to something even further…’

    Sir Gerald did not elaborate on what further steps would be.

  • Polari Magazine editor in savage homophobic beating

    Damon Truluck and Christopher Bryant from gay and lesbian online publication Polari magazine, attacked and mugged last night in London.

    Writing on Facebook Bryant from PolariMagazine.com said,

    “This is how my birthday ended. Pushed to the floor, kicked in the face by two guys as the other four went for Damon. “Stay down, f**king faggot”, one of them shouted….We spent 6 hours in hospital. Nothing broken, which is incredible as they kicked me in the face about 5 times. The police have been brilliant”.

    The picture was uploaded to Polari Magazine’s facebook page and has already been shared 70 times, with over 98 comments made.

    GayStarNews reports that the incident took place in South London’s Betts Park.

    The attack happened around 12:30AM.

    The homophobic beating happened just under a month after the Metropolitan Police released figures which revealed that reportings of anti-gay attacks had dropped significantly in the UK’s capital.

    Police are still investigating the attack and are looking for suspects, however Bryant told TheGayUK that,

    ‘They avoided all CCTV and were hard to see under the hoodies’.

  • IDAHO in London

    Join in with Pride and IDAHO London on May 17th, 5pm in Trafalgar Square.

    From 17:00PM – to 20:00 there will be an outdoor event in Trafalgar Square, London to mark IDAHO, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2013.

    Wendyl Harris from Pride in London said,

    “We are honoured to join the global community marking this important international event. Homosexuality remains a criminal offence in 76 countries around the world, and punishable by death in a further 8 countries, yet many of our LGBTQI friends oversees will be celebrating IDAHO and looking to London for inspiration. IDAHO’s theme this year is marriage equality which compliments this year’s Pride Parade on June 29th: Love (& Marriage)

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Noises Off, National Tour

    ★★★★ | Noises Off, National Tour

    If someone had told me that I would sit through the first act of the same play three times in the same evening and actually enjoy it, I thought I would be laughing at them, not with them.

    But this cleverly written play, produced for this national tour by The Old Vic Theatre, amounted to a hilarious and thoroughly entertaining evening at the theatre.

    In Michael Frayn’s classic comedy, a group of actors initially find themselves rehearsing Act One of a play, “Nothing On” in the small frantic hours before the opening night of a regional tour. Nothing is ready, the cast don’t know their lines, there is a significant problem with the sardines and the director, Lloyd Dallas, is becoming increasingly agitated and frustrated at the lack of progress. The relationships between the actors become strained when their backstage shenanigans start to interfere with their professional integrity.

    Fast forward to the middle of the tour. Life on the road is taking its toll on the company and what we see is the view from backstage, as the cast perform Act One of “Nothing On” to an eager audience of pensioners and as jealously, rivalry and a quickly disappearing bottle of whiskey backstage all contribute to the sabotaging of each other’s performances whilst keeping the ‘noises off’ the main stage.

    The final scene is once again viewed from the auditorium, where the cast, on the last performance of the tour, perform Act One of “Nothing On” with a complete lack of enthusiasm, damaged props, an almost total disregard of the script and a ridiculous amount of improvisation as the performance spirals out of control.This incredibly cleverly written play was great fun. The first act centred on the rehearsal of a play within the play. The audience were treated to watching and engaging in the story and characters of the fictional play being rehearsed, which was actually a funny and traditional farce, with a story you could follow, plenty of well-timed entrances and exits and which was very much in keeping with the spirit of the genre. However, the parallel narrative of the lives, loves and inabilities of the cast and crew was equally engaging and sharply written. The interchange between the two stories was seamless as the audience switched between the two narratives with ease. Utilising the theatre as part of the set (by having the director try his best to control the stage from amongst the audience in the stalls) was a brilliant move, as it really drew in the audience, making them feel like part of the company.

    The backstage section was absolute comic genius and it is almost worth seeing the play for this section alone. This part of the play was virtually silent, as the now familiar story of “Nothing On” was being performed on stage whilst the company was falling apart off stage. The cast appeared and disappeared through various doors as the play continued whilst the crew physically fought, tied each other’s shoelaces together, hid items from each other and join forces to prevent one cast member from getting drunk. What followed was 30 minutes of simply brilliant, fast paced and perfectly directed and choreographed physical comedy. It was clear that the cast (and the director, Lindsay Posner) had worked very hard to achieve such impeccable comic timing and it was one of the finest pieces of stage comedy I have seen in a long time.

    The final section transported the audience back to sitting in front of the stage, where at the end of the run, the company and the play is falling apart. Wobbly scenery, failing props and stage fatigue all contribute to the increasingly crumbling performance. Whilst this section was enjoyable, it was here, where, after such an impressive second act, the final act paled slightly and the joke started to stretch a little compared to what had come before it, but to be fair, the second part was a very difficult act to follow.

    The cast were all first-rate, and as previously mentioned, had clearly worked incredibly hard to perform as they did. Neil Pearson was excellent as Lloyd Dallas, the frustrated director. You could feel his pain as he tried desperately to hold things together just before opening night. Maureen Beattie’s turn as Dotty Otley was also a particular pleasure. Her character could almost be a forerunner for Mrs Overall in Acorn Antiques or Mrs Doyle in Father Ted and not only was Beattie’s stage presence noticeable; her comic performance was on a par with Julie Walters performance as the aforementioned Mrs O. The very handsome Simon Bubb put in an incredibly good performance as the hapless and downtrodden Tim, a stagehand, understudy and general dogsbody. Bubb subtly generated a character that you couldn’t help but easily warm to and empathise with. The remaining cast were all incredibly good and there was no weak link in them, each of them, in their own way, deserving a specific mention. The relatively simple set was well utilised and the play as a whole had a good balance between sharp yet warm writing, likeable characters and hysterical physical comedy.

    The show was written in 1982 yet didn’t feel dated at all, giving off a real feel of a mixture of both the early Channel 4 (slightly anarchic) comedies such as “The Comic Strip” coupled with the charm of the 70’s sitcoms such as The Good Life, George and Mildred and Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em. Noises Off had an infectious, almost naive allure which was positively delightful.
    Noises Off is currently playing at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre before continuing its national tour.

  • Isle Of Man Gay Couple Refused Rental Accommodation

    A couple from the Isle of Man are petitioning for a change in the law after they were refused an accommodation agreement on the basis of their sexual orientation.

    Kira Izzard and Laura Cull from the Isle of Man’s capital, Douglas, said they were ‘shocked’ to discover there was no law in place to protect them from discrimination based on sexuality.

    The BBC is reporting that the couple have launched a petition calling for introduction of the UK’s Equality Act 2010.

    The petition has gained the support of over 1000 people.

    You can sign the petition here
    http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/equality-act-2010-on-the-isle-of-man.html

    Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, Allan Bell MHK said:

    “I am extremely disappointed that this type of ugly, out-dated prejudice survives after all the work that has been done over the past 20 years or so to make the island a more tolerant place

    “I do believe that our society today is generally much more tolerant than it used to be. But this incident shows that there are still isolated pockets of bigotry that can only be tackled through legislation.

    “An Equality Bill, based on the UK Equality Act 2010, is already in the drafting process and will deal with discrimination of this kind. I have asked that preparation of this legislation be accelerated.

    The Chief Minister concluded:

    ‘I have a clear message for those inside or outside the Isle of Man who still think this is an outpost of old-fashioned prejudice. This is a modern, caring, compassionate and inclusive society and we do not want to be associated with bigots who live in the past.’

    Ms. Izzard and Ms Cull are planning to be civilly partnered later this year. The couple were told by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau that the landlord was acting within the law

    Homosexuality was outlawed under Isle Of Man law until 1992. Civil Partnerships were legalised in April 2011. Same-sex couple are also legal able to adopt.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Bare The Rock Musical, The Union Theatre

    After seeing several of director Paul Taylor Mills’ previous productions, I thought I knew what to expect from bare: the rock musical, but I was genuinely swept away by this fresh and dynamic tale of teenage love and angst.

    An exquisitely sexy musical with an extremely talented and equally alluring cast, I laughed and cried with the characters as every emotion is played out in front of us. Heartstrings were tugged in every direction, whilst my every sense tingled with the visual and aural treats of this vibrant production.

    Written by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo, bare tells the story of a group of teenagers at a Catholic boarding school discovering love and, by default, themselves. Told with such absolute warmth, the audience is provided an extremely intimate view into the lives of these youngsters. There are some beautifully tender moments in amongst the lively, fast-paced action and I can’t remember the last time I felt so emotionally invested in a show and its characters. Scenes of real heartbreak are gently softened with an expert use of humour, providing not just relief but also some genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

    Jason (Ross William Wild) and Peter (Michael Vinsen) are in a clandestine relationship, as rocky as it is secret. As they are pulled apart, Ivy (Lilly-Jane Young) is quick to take advantage of Jason’s newly single status which breaks Matt’s (Dale Evans) heart and angers Nadia (Melanie Greaney), all set against the backdrop of rehearsals for the school production of Romeo and Juliet. Confused? This is the tangled web that is brilliantly interplayed in this highly emotional rollercoaster as we watch relationships and, indeed, lives torn apart. Throw in a steadfastly conservative mother (Yvette Robinson) who refuses to allow her son to come out (even to her), a possibly-closeted priest (Matt Harrop) and a strict Sister with a sideline in sass (Hannah Levane), and you get the picture.

    Will Burton’s casting is beyond superb on this production. The leads are exceptional and supported by a hugely talented ensemble. I was particularly struck by the sensitivity between Wild’s Jason and Vinsen’s Peter – so touching it is very easy to see the love between the two characters.

    Ross William Wild is captivating and his brilliant eyes tell every emotion Jason feels, a detail rarely seen so honestly portrayed. Michael Vinsen is equally expressive and particularly skilful at using his voice to convey emotion.

    Other notable performances came from Lilly-Jane Young and Dale Evans. Ivy’s vulnerability and longing is visible throughout but never more so than during her solo number, All Grown Up. Her handling of some particularly tough scenes displays a sensitivity and grace far beyond her years. Her suitor is portrayed beautifully and intelligently by Evans with Matt’s desperation for Ivy’s attention clearly visible.

    Jason’s sister, the larger than life Nadia is played expertly and utterly believable by Melanie Greaney, who is an absolute pleasure to watch and listen to. It’s difficult to comprehend that this is Greaney’s professional debut with the strength and skill she so visibly exhibits here. Indeed, for many of the cast, bare marks their professional debut – and what a debut it is!

    The outstanding performance of the night though has to go to Hannah Levane’s fabulously feisty Sister Chantelle. With a strong, powerful voice that is bang on the note, it was a rare and exquisite privilege to hear her so close.

    The intensely beautiful score is complemented perfectly by Racky Plews’ tight choreography, which is perfectly executed throughout.

    Paul Taylor Mills’ vision is, as always, thoroughly engaging and enlightening. It’s rare to come out of a show feeling so wholly fulfilled. Without a doubt, bare is one of the very best things on the London stage at the moment and, if you don’t see this production, you’re missing out on something very special indeed.

    bare: the rock musical plays at the Union Theatre, Southwark until 25 May. Tickets are currently sold out, but it is very definitely worth checking the website regularly and asking the venue for returns.

     

    http://www.uniontheatre.biz/#/bare-the-rock-musical/4574150801

  • Anti-Homophobia Campaign Launched By Two Straight Fifteen Year Old

    “Take the Pledge” Anti-Homophobia Campaign Campaign Launched by Two Fifteen Year Old Straight Teens with the LGBT Network

    Two heterosexual teenagers, Nathan and Ross have launched a campaign to encourage people to “Take The Pledge” in support of the LGBTQ community. The web based campaign on www.skelat.com/LGBTQ.html urges supporters to download a template which has space for their name and a paragraph on why they support the LGBTQ community. Participants are then encouraged to take a photograph of themselves holding the completed “pledge” and upload it to the Skelat.com website.

    The fifteen year olds are based in Merseyside (England, UK) and despite being heterosexual, decided to setup the campaign to garner support for the community as they have witnessed the increase of casual homophobia and transphobia. Skelat.com was set up in January 2013 and is funded by the teenagers themselves and has grown to include blogs, useful tips, information sharing sections and various fundraising initiatives supporting different charities.

    Over half (55%) of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people have experience bullying at School. The school report: the experiences of young gay people in Britain’s schools (PDF). http://bit.ly/ZEUPTJ London: Stonewall.

    When asked what inspired him to set up the LGBTQ project, Nathan from Skelat.com said:

    “People need to say enough is enough when it comes to discrimination, it is something we see all too much. Whether it is in our workplace, our play grounds or even our social networks, it’s something which needs to stop. People should only be judged by the content of their character Take The Pledge was born to give people the opportunity to share their opinion and support the community in a very visual and engaging manner and I would ask everyone to log onto the website and Take The Pledge.”

    “In 2013 it is unacceptable that homophobic and transphobic bullying still blights the lives of millions of young people the world-wide. Young LGBTQ people are exposed to homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools and increasingly on-line from their bedrooms, the very place they should feel safe and protected. More work needs to be done to highlight this problem and the LGBT Network is thrilled to support this campaign from Skelat.com. The ‘Take the Pledge’ campaign allows people to affirm their support of the LGBTQ community in a very personal and visual manner. It is truly inspiring that two 15 year old heterosexual allies would show their commitment to equality in this way and they are a credit to their families and the communities within which they live.”

    – Rob McDowall, Chair of the LGBT Network