(GayWebSource.com – Gay Media & Press Network) – Posted by Jake Simpson – TheGayUK.com

Yep, Kid’s TV stalwart Andi Peter was spotted at the launch of Honest Burgers Portobello Road last night.
by Newsdesk | 9th October 2013

He was spotted chatting to the rather dishy co-founder Philip Eeeles. No sign of Edd The Duck – which would have made the picture complete.… Read the rest

Media Provided by the GayWebSource.com – Gay Media & Press Network.
To republish this post please visit SPOTTED: Andi Peters In Honest Burger Joint

Last night Ed Miliband revealed his new front bench team, boasting 14 Women in his middle ranks and the demotion of three leading Blarites.
by Becky Graham | 8th October 2013

The Liberal Democrats, too, sprung a change which succeeded in infuriating H…

Last night Ed Miliband revealed his new front bench team, boasting 14 Women in his middle ranks and the demotion of three leading Blarites.
by Becky Graham | 8th October 2013

The Liberal Democrats, too, sprung a change which succeeded in infuriating H…

(GayWebSource.com – Gay Media & Press Network) – Posted by Jake Simpson – TheGayUK.com

Last night Ed Miliband revealed his new front bench team, boasting 14 Women in his middle ranks and the demotion of three leading Blarites.
by Becky Graham | 8th October 2013

The Liberal Democrats, too, sprung a change which succeeded in infuriating Home Secretary Theresa May, in the firing of Home Office Minister; Jeremy Brown, who has been a leading advocate of the Tory-Liberal Democrat… Read the rest

Media Provided by the GayWebSource.com – Gay Media & Press Network.
To republish this post please visit Politics: Who’s Who In Government Shake Up

Kuwait Public Health Department has announced plans to conduct ‘medical screening’ tests to “detect” gay people entering the anti-gay region.

by Newsdesk | 8th October 2013

IBTimes.co.uk is reporting that the director of public health in Kuwait, Yousouf Mindkar said that ‘routine clinical screening of expatriates coming into the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) will include tests to identify LGBT people who will then be banned from entering the country.’

‘Health centres conduct the routine medical check to assess the health of the expatriates when they come into the GCC countries,’ he told local daily Al Rai.

‘However, we will take stricter measures that will help us detect gays who will be then barred from entering Kuwait or any of the GCC member states.’

Homosexuality is illegal in the region with a potential punishment of 10 years in prison for anyone engaging in homosexual behaviour.

Details have not emerged on what form these tests may take, however numerous commenting members on Queerty have said that the Kuwait government have used rectal tests to determine whether a person has had receptive anal sex.

‘And one of their “tests” for homosexuality involves a rectal exam to reveal whether or not you’ve had penetrative anal sex.’ wrote Kenover on the site.

Emerging fashion designer’s modern twist on dapper dickey bow design, favoured by former X Factor winner Joe McElderry.

by Newsdesk | 8th October 2013

DICKEYBOW Clothing is a new range of T-shirts and vests, each with its own simple but stylish dickey bow design. Incorporating clean, geometric shapes and fun, vibrant colours, there are several prints to choose from.

Designer Karl Dickey, 24, from Gateshead, came up with the concept last year and in December 2012, took the bold move of swapping the office for the catwalk, metaphorically speaking.

His designs are a huge hit on the dance scene in Ibiza, where much of the promotional material was shot, and closer to home the dickey bow motif has already caught the eye of Diversity’s Sam Craske and aspiring boy band RAW.

Following a promising first eight months of business, Karl is struggling to cope with the demand for his designs:

“I started making all of the T-shirts and prints at home but as the orders came in, I soon had T-shirts and vests everywhere. I’ve teamed up with manufacturers and am now seeking larger premises. I’m so pleased with how the brand has taken off, if a little taken aback. I’ve had really good feedback so far and to have Sam from Diversity and the RAW lads wearing my work is great.”

LGBT consulting firm Out Now, has issued a statement to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that disputes the data that relates to the number of gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the UK.

by Newsdesk | 8th October 2013

Out Now Consulting, the global LGBT marketing agency, has today written to the Director General of the Office for National Statistics, requesting the immediate withdrawal of data relating to gay and lesbian people on the grounds that it is inaccurate and misleading.

Out Now says that a flawed and poor research methodology used by the ONS renders it incapable of providing a correct measurement of homosexuality and bisexuality in the UK.

The ONS claims that research, part of the Integrated Household Survey, shows that “1.5 per cent of adults in the UK identified themselves as Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual.”

Out Now disputes this figure, saying:

‘This claim is not only inaccurate as a true measure of the prevalence of homosexuality and bisexuality in the United Kingdom, it is dangerous as it is prone to misreporting and may lead to funding problems for organisations focused on the health of LGB people.

‘The research methodology you have employed is not suitable for the purpose of obtaining an accurate measure of homosexuality and bisexuality in the UK.’

The ONS is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics and is the recognised national statistical institute for the UK. It is responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels. It also conducts the census in England and Wales every ten years.

An ONS spokesman said: ‘The question on sexual identity was developed and tested on a number of surveys in 2008 and was added to the Integrated Household Survey (IHS) in 2009. A prototype question was developed using focus groups to gain an understanding of the concept of sexual identity, and piloted on an ONS survey prior to inclusion in the IHS.

‘The sexual identity question was asked of respondents aged 16 years and over; it was not asked by proxy, and the question was asked in mainly face to face with some telephone interviews. The data have been collected to provide accurate statistics to underpin the equality monitoring responsibilities of public sector organisations and to assess the disadvantage or relative discrimination experienced by the lesbian, gay and bisexual population.

‘The sexual identity measure is based on what the respondent to the IHS self declare. It is possible that a proportion of responders who are LGB answer with an alternative response to the ONS survey, however the ONS trials and pilots did not suggest this was the case to a significant degree despite concerns that it might be being raised at the time.

We are responding directly to the comments made by OutNow and we will examine their concerns.’

Out Now founder and Ian Johnson today wrote to the ONS saying:

“The data you are responsible for publishing is not fit for purpose and risks being used by those who may not ‘like’ gay, lesbian or bisexual people to undermine their rights. It may be used similarly to seek to reduce funding for government and NGO initiatives focused on LGB people in the UK.”

Social media users, have taken to Facebook and Twitter to also disagree with the claims from the ONS. Antony Simpson on Facebook wrote:

‘Disagree many, many more!’

Another wrote:

‘I think there’s many more gay people out there. So many are married to women and living a heterosexual life (with some ‘fun’ with men on the side, as we all know if we log on to Grindr and the like). Admittedly many of those people in marriages will perhaps be bisexual, but still I imagine there are a lot more gay people than anyone realises.’

So here it is… your Christmas Number 1 starts here. We take a look at the final 12 to make it into this year’s live shows on the X Factor.

by Newsdesk | 7th October 2013

The Boys

Luke Friend

AGE: 17

LOCATION: Devon

OCCUPATION: Student

ROOM SONG: Stand By Me – Ben. E King

ARENA SONG: Too Much Love Will Kill You – Queen

BOOTCAMP SONG:

Nicholas McDonald

AGE: 16

LOCATION: Motherwell

OCCUPATION: Student

ROOM SONG: You Raise Me Up – Westlife

ARENA SONG: 1000 Years – Christina Perry

BOOTCAMP: I won’t give up – Jason Mraz

Sam Callahan

AGE: 19

LOCATION: Essex

OCCUPATION: Barman

ROOM SONG: You’re Beautiful – James Blunt

ARENA SONG: You Need Me- Ed Sheeran

BOOTCAMP: Iris – GooGoo Dolls

The Girls

ABI ALTON

AGE: 19

LOCATION: Guisborough

OCCUPATION: Morrison’s sales assistant

ROOM SONG: Travelling Solider – Dixie Chicks

ARENA SONG: Jigsaw – original song

BOOTCAMP SONG: I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston

TAMERA FOSTER

AGE: 16

LOCATION: Gravesend, Kent

OCCUPATION: Was due to start college in September to study Musical Theatre

ROOM SONG: End of Time – Beyonce (as part of Silver Rock)

ARENA SONG: I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston

BOOTCAMP SONG: Stay – Rhianna

HANNAH BARRETT

AGE: 17

LOCATION: South London

OCCUPATION: Student, studying her A Levels

ROOM SONG: Read all About it – Emeli Sande

ARENA SONG: One Night Only – Jennifer Hudson

BOOTCAMP SONG: I’d Rather Go Blind – Etta James

The Overs

SHELLEY SMITH

AGE: 34

LOCATION: Devon, Farringdon

OCCUPATION: White van driver (delivers car parts)

ROOM SONG: Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin

ARENA SONG: Feeling Good – Nina Simone

BOOTCAMP SONG: Respect – Aretha Franklin

SAM BAILEY

AGE: 35

LOCATION: Leicestershire

OCCUPATION: Prison Officer

ROOM SONG: Listen – Beyonce

ARENA SONG: Whose Loving You – The Jackson’s

BOOTCAMP SONG: Clown – Emeli Sande

LORNA SIMPSON

AGE: 26

LOCATION: South Norwood, London

OCCUPATION: University student

ROOM SONG: I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston

ARENA SONG: A Moment like This – Leona Lewis

BOOTCAMP SONG: Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston

The Groups

ROUGH COPY

AGE: (left-right) Kaz (24), Sterling (25) and Joey (27)

LOCATION: Croydon

OCCUPATION: Sterling (unemployed), Joey (Sales Assistant in New Look), Kaz (Carpenter)

ROOM SONG: Do it Like a Dude – Jessie J

ARENA SONG: Little Things – One Direction

BOOTCAMP SONG: Stop Crying Your Heart Out – Oasis

KINGSLAND ROAD

AGE: (left to right) Josh (20), Connor (19), Thompson (22), Matt (25), Jay (19)

LOCATION: East London

OCCUPATION: Connor (Bartender), Matt (Bartender), Jay (Waiter), Josh (Bartender),

Thompson (Sales Assistant)

ROOM SONG: Don’t you Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia

ARENA SONG: Treasure You – Bruno Mars

BOOTCAMP SONG: For Once in My Life – Stevie Wonder

MISS DYNAMIX

AGE: (Left to right) – Jeanette (21), Rielle (16), SeSe (22),

LOCATION: SeSe (London), Jeanette (Romford Essex, originally from South Africa), Rielle

(Manchester)

OCCUPATION: SeSe (Full time mum), Jeanette (Beauty consultant), Rielle (Student)

ROOM SONG: N/A

ARENA SONG: N/A

BOOTCAMP SONG: We Found Love – Rhianna

A gay couple is to take part in a sex experiment in front of a live studio audience for a Channel 4 progamme that aims to look at the sex lives of ‘normal Britons’. Airs tonight at 10:00PM

by Newsdesk | 7th October 2013

Three couples, which includes a straight engaged couple who were childhood sweethearts, a gay couple who have been together for 3 years and couple in their 20s are to have sex on Channel 4 tonight.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said that the gay couple had wanted to take part in the show because it was a brilliant opportunity to show how ‘normal’ gay sex could be.

Speaking to theGuardian the gay couple Matt and John said that they had been approached by the makers of the programme whilst they were on holiday in Manchester to coincide with Manchester Pride.

‘Our private life isn’t exactly private. You can’t really do anything. You can’t have anything delivered without them knowing – oh, another parcel for the gay couple upstairs.

‘We were hoping to put a few facts right, that not all gay men wear dresses.

‘We’re both gay but we’re not really in a gay community as such. We don’t have loads of gay friends. We thought just by being part of the conversation , we’re doing our bit to show what it’s like.’

Mariella Frostrup hosts the new show for Channel 4, which aims to reclaim sex from porn by ‘exploring how the ever-increasing consumption of pornography is distorting people’s expectations of sex and ultimately damaging the sex lives of Britons.’

The show was recorded in front of a live studio audience, who like TV audiences did not see any sex or nudity.

After each couples’ time in the box, they talk with Frostrup and a panel of sexperts, which includes psychotherapist, broadcaster and author Phillip Hodson, sex, body language and relationship expert Tracey Cox and internationally syndicated sex columnist Dan Savage

Sex Box presenter Mariella Frostrup said: “Ten years as the Observer’s Agony Aunt has given me plenty of insight into what an important role sex plays in our lives but also how difficult we find to talk openly about it to each other. The sex we see on screen, in magazines and increasingly online bears little relation to the real experiences of real people. I’m delighted to take part in this attempt to have a frank conversation about an essential element of all our lives. “

The actual Sex Box is a completely sound proofed box – however the walls are opaque, so audiences or the production crew will see little.

Dan Savage said: “Many people have an easier time speaking honestly about sex with their friends – or with anonymous strangers online – than they do with their partners. But honest, fearless communication with the person (or persons!) with whom you actually have sex is central to creating successful long-term relationships. Sex is that important.”

As a child, I recall sitting in our home in Yorkshire, reading and re-reading two books of humorous poems. I read the verses out loud wherever possible, or I speak them in my head. The lady on the cover of the books looks friendly and, well, normal.

by Robin Foreman-Quercus | 7th October 2013

★★★★

25 years later, armed with this memory, I leap at the chance to see that very lady on National Poetry Day, performing at the glorious Cadogan Hall as part of a national tour celebrating her latest book of poems, You Made Me Late Again!

Pam Ayres has been a writer, broadcaster and entertainer for almost 40 years, known for her sharp perception of the comic detail of everyday life. She is the author of several bestselling poetry collections and, in 2004, was awarded an MBE for services to literature and entertainment.

An Evening With Pam Ayres is a collection of poems and anecdotes; some new, some not-so-new, but all delivered with Pam’s natural homely warmth. Her husband, Dudley, is the subject of several verses, as are her many animals (she has dogs, cows, bees, sheep, guinea fowl and hens). This is a glorious insight into her life and the unique way in which her mind interprets it, providing many laugh-out-loud moments.

Unusually, for a show of this nature, she also includes one or two more poignant tales and the poem she dedicates to a dead dog is heart-wrenching. Rather than detracting from the humour, this is hugely effective in making it seem somehow more real; an intimate look at the realities of life.

But above the remarkably clever witticisms and touching tales rises Pam’s performance. She has exceptional comic timing and this, combined with her refreshingly confident delivery of some truly great material, provides an evening which firmly cements her status as a genuine national treasure.

I recall a recent interview she provided for the Express in which she said she never writes for the page but that her words are meant to be spoken. I like to think I recognized that as a child.

An Evening With Pam Ayres is on an extensive national tour over the next few months. Dates and tickets are at http://www.pamayres.com/index.php/category/tourdates

If, like me, you’re a sucker for a musical about voguing set in LA, with a mainly unknown cast and containing some catchy tunes you’ve never heard of – this is the movie for you!
by Chris Jones | 7th October 2013

Rotten Tomatoes describes this as a si…