Fashion News: The Penis Is In!

The phrase “emperor’s new clothes” is rolled out all too often in fashion – but this season it could be bang on the money. Because the hottest trend in menswear right now is not about clothing but the lack of it. That’s right, chaps, this season cocks are in – or, perhaps more specifically – out.

In January, at Rick Owens’ Paris fashion week show, penises swung gently down the runway. The designer – who has a made a career out of creating highly expensive leather jackets – sent out several models minus underwear in tunics featuring peepholes, cut to reveal their genitals. Cue a storm of media coverage and the Instagram hashtag: Dick Owens. Meanwhile, last season, photographer Alasdair McLellan shot a Raf Simons/Sterling Ruby collections story for Arena Homme+ featuring two naked images of the model Danny Blake; one was full-frontal nude, the other featured a jumper with nothing on the bottom half. More recently, bi-annual style magazine Man About Town featured the model Michael Morgan nude on its limited edition cover, also shot by McLellan – the limited run of 500 sold out in 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in the 10th anniversary issue of Fantastic Man, there was a full-nude shoot featuring men of various ages...

Guardian Fashion online.

Fagburn was getting his cock out before it was fashionable.

USA Today: Vote For Me!

Every loving couple & family deserves to be recognized & treated equally under the law across our nation. #LoveMustWin #LoveCantWait –H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 28, 2015

It's no pantsuit rainbow, but Hillary Clinton's new avatar is looking pretty snazzy.

The 2016 presidential candidate changed her profile picture on Twitter and Facebook

to a rainbow version of her campaign logo on Tuesday. The switch came the same day the Supreme Court is set to hear opening arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, a case expected to determine whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

Clinton's campaign has already taken a strong stance on marriage equality. The video in which she announced her candidacy featured a gay Chicago couple who later invited the former secretary of state to their wedding.

Clinton hasn't always agreed the nation's highest court was the place to handle the marriage debate, The Washington Post noted. In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross last year, Clinton said for her, marriage had "always been a matter left to the states."

Regardless of timing, the updated logo is looking pretty darn good

Huff Post Gay.

Dunno about the gay vote, but she must have the idiot vote sewn up.

General Election 2015: Oops!

We apologise if yesterday's sharing graphic caused any confusion and have taken it down following your feedback: https://t.co/Dpg9pL4kbE

— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) April 28, 2015

Here's the first version, that made LGBTory, Lib Dem, SNP members have kittens, saying it was misleading.

Compare and contrast to Stonewall's breakdown of the major parties LGBT manifesto pledges.

Stonewall have often been accused of cosying up to Labour - most notably when Angela Mason backed Frank Dobson, a Labour MP not noted for his support of LGBT equality, in the Mayor Of London election in 2000, over Ken Livingstone, who had been a pioneer and public champion for some 20 years.

After leaving Stonewall in 2002, Mason was made head of the Women And Equality Unit quango by the Labour government, doubling her salary to £80,000. In 2007 she was made Dame Angela Mason.

General Election 2015: Vote For Adam Clifford!

Adam Clifford was on The Daily Politics today - you can watch it here (50 min in).

Our Adam will be outside Buckingham Palace at 12 noon tomorrow to launch the Class War manifesto.

PS 'Promoted by Murray Healy'! Who he??? etc etc.

Nepal: Propaganda Masquerading As Philanthropy

Daily Mail.

Interesting priority to get IDF soldiers to fly out around 30 babies in military aircraft when elsewhere the Mail say over a million people have been affected by the earthquake.

If only Israel cared so very, very much about Palestinian children.

Paul Hansen, Gaza City 2013.

The Guardian: Heads You Lose!

Oh goody.

But one wonders if The Guardian will break with tradition and publish photographs that show same-sex couples' faces?

There follows a brief email exchange with The Guardian's Reader's Editor dated April 9th, and headed 'Decapitating gay men'.

Yet another gay story illustrated with faceless gay men, sadly not cake toppers this time.

Have you ever thought how ironic and insulting this is?

Richard Smith
Same-sex marriage: a reform that would put the icing on the cake

Dear Mr Smith

The photographer who took this shot has clearly decided to use a close crop to focus on the hands of the couple as one places a ring on the other's hands. I think that's a reasonable artistic decision, and I don't think using such a picture as a general illustration of a piece about gay marriage is insulting.

There are plenty of articles linked from these pages, with stories about…

gay marriage – http://www.theguardian.com/society/gay-marriage *

LGBT rights – http://www.theguardian.com/world/lgbt-rights

sexuality – http://www.theguardian.com/society/sexuality

… that include pictures of gay men that are not cropped close in this way. It seems to me that there is a reasonable variety of pictures used.

Regards
Rory Foster


Dear Rory,

Thanks for your reply.

It's a visual cliche and it's insulting and shaming.

Richard

* The last photo of a gay couple that comes up when I searched The Guardian today is this double whammy; two faceless gay men hidden behind a rainbow flag!

April 26th.

Eurovision: 'Too Gay' For Top Tory Twot Shock

Is Eurovision too gay? Mouths dropped and pearls were clutched on Friday at Bafta headquarters in Piccadilly, which hosted a day-long conference on the impact of the contest attended by academics, aficionados and past performers — including last year’s winner Conchita Wurst.

On the agenda were such weighty matters as “how the Eurovision Song Contest has been used as a platform of expression for diverse communities, to create national and European identities and as a tool for nation branding”.

But the man who raised eyebrows in a genteel kerfuffle was Fraser Nelson, editor of The Spectator, and a surprising Eurovision devotee. In the UK at least, opined the Scot, the contest had been “reduced to the level of a musical gay pride march. I prefer it in Sweden, where it’s seen more as a family show, an entertainment extravaganza,” he said. Cue mild harrumphing in the hall and one fan suggesting that the term “too gay” smacked of homophobia.

Sensing a miffed audience, Nelson reframed his opinion, saying the camp aspect showed “values of tolerance — and it exports those values in a vivid way to places where they are still to be accepted”...

Spectator's editor is camping it up, Londoner's Diary, Evening Standard.

Here's Fraser paying fulsome tribute to ABBA, and saying something baffling about our attitude to Eurovision and the European Union. 

I've often wondered if the unfeasibly right-wing Mr Nelson was a screaming wotnot, think I've now reached my conclusion.

Update: Fraser says it wasn't him who said it! That was a panel moderator's precis of the 'reduced to the level of a gay pride march. I prefer it in Sweden, where it's seen more as a family show...', presumably. Which seems a reasonable interpretation. 

Adam Lambert: If You Say So

Queen singer Adam Lambert boasted that he's romped with very famous fellas who unfortunately feel they have to hide their sexuality.

The 33-year-old refused to identify his high-profile lovers, but he did say: "I've been with a few of them."

The American Idol graduate blames Tinseltown's macho culture for preventing folk from expressing their true sexuality, suggesting it stops many stars from coming out of the closet publicly through fear it may harm their career.

When quizzed about why they felt the need to disguise their sexual preferences, he told Glamour magazine: "Whether it's music or acting, you've got to remember that those industries are primarily run by men, so maybe it's about that."

Before truthfully adding: "But with women being the primary moviegoers and record-buyers, surely it shouldn't matter so much?"

Word. It shouldn't matter at all.

Daily Star.

Word!

Anyone could claim to have 'bedded secretly gay stars' they don't name.  

And seeing as Adam is as fugly as sin, I doubt there'd be much of a queue.

Big Issue: Owen Jones' Big Election

Roll up, roll up and read all about this week's star-studded Big Issue - guest edited by Owen Jones

With the general election bringing claim and counter-claim we wanted someone to navigate us through these confusing times. So we asked Owen Jones if he wanted to take control of The Big Issue and lasso some names who could offer new perspectives in the final days before polling.

Among those featured is revolutionary popinjayRussell Brand who disentangles his thoughts on politics and reveals whether he would run for office himself. Actor Michael Sheen offers his own prescription for saving the NHS. Queen legend Brian May talks about his journey from pop to politics by way of badgers. Brit-award winner Paloma Faith calls for more social responsibility, pub landlord Al Murray explains why he is standing against Nigel Farage in South Thanet...

The new supersized 'star-studded' big issue of the Big Issue edited by the starstruck star and stud Owen Jones is available now for £2.50.

Also contains Ken Loach and Paris Lees, who are a lot more interesting than Paloma 'Let me be your kooky girlfriend' Faith.

Fagburn promises to buy one, but may skip the Russell Brand kiss-in.

Tweets Of The Day: Resign!

@PeterTatchell he has resigned already.
— Edward Reach (@ReachEd) April 27, 2015

Who says online petitions are just silly exercises in vanity that have no effect?

I hope this small technicality won't stop Saint Peter taking full credit for this via his superpowers.

For the record, Fagburn doesn't agree with pressurising politicians to resign just cause they have obnoxious opinions, never mind calling in the cops.

PS The publicity-shy Tatchell seems to be suggesting he was the only person who confronted Katie Hopkins at the British LGBT Awards. He wasn't he was the only person who made sure there was a photographer on hand, told the gay media about it, and tweeted about his fearless act.

The full story of how & why I confronted Kate Hopkins at the @BritLGBTAwards over her bigoted views https://t.co/LRYsXQzAK5 @PatrickStrud
— Peter Tatchell (@PeterTatchell) April 26, 2015

General Election 2015: Vote For Patrick Harvie

[SCOTTISH] GREENS chief Patrick Harvie thought he was about to enjoy a referendum bounce of his own when he met a dishy young bloke on a train.

His party had been boosted by a huge surge in membership, from 1,500 to 9,000, since standing with the Yes Campaign in last September’s historic vote.

And, although Patrick also saw his personal popularity soar, his new found fame has not put his love life on track.

He reveals: “I was on the train coming back from Brighton and was in the wee shop on board when a gorgeous young man smiles at me.

“He says how lovely it is to meet me. Big grin and all that. I’m thinking ‘hello’. He also took a selfie — I wish it had been more than a selfie.

“Then later he tells me how excited his wife was that he’d met me. And that was that.”

Speaking about his private life for the first time, the openly gay leader, adds: “I am currently single.

“I can’t use the excuse that I’m too busy with the party or campaigning. I’ve just never been very good when it comes to relationships.”

Patrick looks like a mini Rab C Nesbitt in his white vest when we meet to run around his local park in Glasgow’s southside...

The Scottish Sun.

What an hilarious anecdote!

The closest we come to discussing policy is; 'I’m not saying we should be digging up the runways to plant cabbages, but I think we should fly less.'

Oh, and he supports Scottish independence, and was once described as ‘voice of the irresponsible left-led anti-family anti-Christian gay whales against the bomb coalition’.

'That made me quite proud. I want a plaque on my desk that’s long enough to fit all that in.'

I hope that's helped Scottish voters make up their minds.

The Sunday Times Rich List: Going Up

Good news!

The super-rich have apparently doubled their wealth since 2009.

Who says the Conservative-led coalition government wasn't doing its job?

Last week we learnt  'Sir Elton John is again the highest-ranked celebrity in the Giving List, donating just under £24.1m — or 8.9% of his overall wealth — to charity last year, the bulk of it to his Aids Foundations in the UK and America.'

They also note One Direction gave a whopping 1% of their dosh to charity.

Though the Sunday Telegraph strike a note of caution; some multi-millionaires may be using charitable donations to save on paying tax.

Hmm...

General Election 2015: Vote For Susan-Anne White (Independent).

Via Alex.Kane on Twitter.

The Fall: Hastings

To Hastings to see The Fall again.

Yay.

Bye. x

Bruce Jenner: The Interview!

This is getting loads of coverage everywhere.

So brave etc etc.

Fagburn wishes him every happiness, of course,* as he does to anyone who's not a former Olympic athlete and current star of a bafflingly popular US reality TV series about rich people.

PS Bruce was in the Village People's magnificent movie, Can't Stop The Music, so will always be in the Fagburn Book Of Super Cool.

* Edited: Jenner says he wants to be referred to by male pronouns until he announces his new name.

PS The other story that's everywhere right now is the straight dude who asked his gay best friend to be his prom date. All media, but of course, think this is 'adorable'.

Gay Dad Watch: Neighbourhood Watch

There’s something about Thornbury Road that really sucks you in,” Sophie Broadbent tells me, smiling. Her partner, Jamie Lancaster, nods in agreement, “I don’t think we realised how interesting it was until we started meeting our neighbours,” he adds. Two years ago, toddlers in tow, the couple embarked on a project to photograph as many of their neighbours as possible. The result is the Thornbury Road portraits: 30 intimate, joyful portraits of local residents...

Each portrait took a couple of hours for Jamie – a photographer since school and a professional director – to set up. And it was not always easy. Trying to cram lights, camera equipment and himself into a small bathroom to photograph Seany O’Kane, a former Big Brother contestant, and his five-year-old son Kuziva-Aodhán, was a challenge. Seany, from Northern Ireland, works for a London charity that supports young fathers, and is gay. He co-parents Kuziva with his son’s two mothers, a couple who live in Manchester...

Not much to comment on in today's papers, so here's the weekend Guardian's obligatory gay dad. 

This being Brixton, Seany is far from being the only gayer on his street - this is Clemens, 'a flamboyant web designer originally from Germany'.

“We knew he would enjoy it because he loves dressing up,” Sophie says. “At Halloween he is always in thigh-high leather boots and a corset.”

No info on these two, but they look the sort who never miss an opportunity to loudly refer to 'my husband'...

By coincidence it's Reclaim Brixton today.

Election 2015: Analysis By Nicky Haslam

What did Ed Miliband’s kitchen say to him, I wonder? “Oh, kitchens are so common, aren’t they? And people who bang on about kitchens are common,” he says dismissively. Bathrooms are much more revealing, he thinks. “Dickie Avedon [the American photographer] once said to me, if you want to decorate for someone properly, you should go to the bathroom and find out what pills they take, if they’re on uppers or downers or what.”

Haslam may be unenthusiastic about Miliband’s kitchen but he loves the man himself. “He looks like a Velázquez. An extraordinary face. He’s really rather beautiful. I met him the other day and I said, ‘You may have read, Mr Miliband, that I think you’re wonderful-looking.’ And he said, ‘Have you met my wife?’” He chuckles throatily. “I thought that was quite funny.” What about David Cameron? “Great fat lump!” he declares. “I’m very fond of David but he looks like anybody really, doesn’t he?”

Interior designer and socialite, Nicky Haslam, The Times.

Lucky readers also learn Nicky keeps his weight down by watching his diet. 

“Avocados only,” he says. “I’m sure that was the food of Eden.”

British LGBT Awards: Live From The Rainbow Coloured Bowels Of Hell!

Katie Hopkins arrived - then it proceeded to get even shitter.

Unsurprisingly none of the above turned up.

Though Fagburn understands Christopher Biggins was in da house!

Check the rapturous response to the totally legit* D-list shitfest that is the British LGBT Awards on Twitter.

jesus christ pic.twitter.com/pPSxCESIJL
— apoptosis (@dead_cells) April 24, 2015

These used to be the European/National Diversity Awards. The organisers are trying to get media to say it's 'the gay Oscars'. Only the clueless Katie Hopkins has fallen for this.

The first sponsor listed is the Royal Air Force - who could help carry out Katie's dream of shooting migrants in the Med.

* 'The independent judging panel will select the winners of the corporate categories, based on their shortlist submission.' 

Update: Hilarious Mail photos of some of the non-celebs at the awards ceremony last night.

Update2: Organisers Square Peg Media denied Hopkins was an invited guest - but she was! [Via Pink News].

V&A: The Unnatural History Museum

'Corporate greed, government inaction and public indifference make Aids a political crisis'.

Gran Fury's 1989 détournement of a vacuous Benneton ad for Act Up is part of the V&A's LGBT collection.

The V&A are hosting a LGBTQ Tour of the museum each last Saturday of the month, starting tomorrow.

For more queer artefacts and stuff see Out In The Museum.

'My Heroes', April Ashley by Grayson Perry.

PS You may also enjoy the British Museum's Same-sex desire and gender identity trail and website.

Drag Studies: It's A Bloody Minnie Mouse Degree! Etc

'Senior lecturer and drag queen Mark Edward'.

A UNIVERSITY is launching a course on wearing drag for degree students.

Undergraduates in their third year will be invited to study the “art”.

It is open to those taking degrees in dance and drama or performing arts at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancs.

Senior lecturer Mark Edward — himself a drag queen — said: “This module not only explores drag as a highly camp performance art, it also engages with complex gender, feminist and queer theory.

“It is completely unique in exploring the crossing of boundaries in terms of gender and performance.”

Edge Hill — motto In Knowledge There Is Opportunity — has 16,000 students and was 2014’s University of the Year.

Mr Edward said the course was not just “wigs, make-up and high heels”.

He said: “Performers have been ‘dragging up’ since Shakespearean times.”

The Sun.

Like the way The Sun start by making this sound like you can get a degree in how to put on lippy and walk in heels.

Yesterday's Telegraph gave the module a fairly fair hearing.

Hopefully the Mail and Express will cover this soon and send their readers FEWMIN! 

PS The drag kings and drag queens of performance module at Edge Hill University.

Und! Are straight men in drag offensive to women? An NUS Women’s Conference recently called for a ban on cross-dressing 'as a mode of fancy dress'. Martin Daubney defends a man's right to wear a frock A spirited defence in the Telegraph by an ex-editor of Loaded.

Rainbow Crossing: Makes People Ill

TOTNES’ plans for Europe’s first permanent rainbow road crossing could be shelved after fears were raised that it could cause dementia sufferers to have hallucinations.

The group Proud2Be has been working on establishing a permanent rainbow crossing in Totnes following the success of the temporary one it set up in the High Street for the town’s gay pride event last year.

Now the group, and town councillors who had been asked to support the plan for the crossing across The Plains, have been warned by someone who works with elderly people that the brightly-coloured crossing could have a serious health impact on people with Alzheimer’s.

Councillors have advised Proud2Be to seek further medical advice from experts...

Torquay Herald Express.

The mere thought of this makes Fagburn feel nauseous.

Tweets Of The Day: Barclays - Investors In Pride And Death

Barclays confirmed as headline sponsor for Pride in London festival | Gay Star News http://t.co/dhNofACamZ
— Barclays Spectrum (@barclayspectrum) April 23, 2015

#stopbarclays activists are at the @Barclays agm today, protesting the banks arms trade links pic.twitter.com/WDjZCGS1DF
— CAAT (@CAATuk) April 23, 2015

See also: How Wall Street came out on gay marriage, Mail Online via Reuters, and After Indiana debacle, states are showing off their LGBT-friendliness, AdWeek.

Update: Harvey Milk quit working on Wall Street for gay activism, Lance seems to be doing the reverse...

.@DLanceBlack will join us at #MIGlobal to explore the key role of American business in the #LGBT rights movement. http://t.co/ZOKXEpBhTQ
— Milken Institute (@MilkenInstitute) April 24, 2015

Dustin's even endorsing this junk, the British LGBT Awards!

The Sewers Of Paris: Last Night Gay Culture Saved My Life

Has a book, movie, TV show or song ever changed your life?

For me, it was a late-night showing of The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert on VH1, hosted at commercial breaks by RuPaul. I was 15, shy and growing up in a small Connecticut town; this was the first time I had ever seen queer men together, rather than popping up as villains or punch lines. "Is this what it's like to have gay friends?" I thought.

Priscilla gave me the confidence to come out, and to start wearing some insanely garish bright yellow and purple outfits. Hey, if it worked for Mitzi, Felicia and Bernadette, I figured I'd have to do the same. And it worked! Before I knew it, I was dating a boy with similarly gaudy taste, and getting up to no good on the bench seat of his pickup truck.

Years later, I mentioned that memory to a friend over drinks at The Eagle in Seattle. He responded by telling me how important he found Christopher Isherwood, the gay novelist who chronicled the sexual underworld of Berlin in the 1930s. Another friend stopped by and confessed that Looking had changed the way he dated; someone else mentioned longing for a protective figure like Lucille Ball in Mame; and, soon, we were all remembering where we were on December 3, 2000, when Queer as Folk showed the world what real gay sex looks like.

What's the entertainment that made you who you are today?

That Eagle conversation left me wanting to find more of the formative media that shaped gay men's lives. I've never read any Isherwood, and haven't seen Mame. What else have I been missing?

That curiosity led me to create The Sewers of Paris, a new podcast about the entertainment that changed the lives of gay men. Each week on the show, a different guest reveals personal stories of the books, movies, music and shows that made them who they are, opening up about their secret struggles, hidden passions, and surprising triumphs.

The results have been fascinating.

In one of the first episodes, I learned about the young love affair that exposed a young gay teen to the secret gay slang of the opera world. In another, my guest revealed that Wizard of Oz conventions once served as undercover meeting places for closeted gay men. I talked to a man who learned from gay comedians on the radio how to defend himself with his words and wit. And I found another guest who grew up closeted and scared in Latvia, where the only access to camp culture came once a year in the form of Eurovision.

Throughout the interviews, a few pieces of entertainment kept recurring. I've rounded them up here, but there's a lot more culture that belongs on this list! I'll keep adding more and more as the show goes on -- you can subscribe at SewersOfParis.com to hear what we discover about next.

And please do let me know what I should add to this list. I'm always eager to discover more. You can tweet at me @mattbaume.

Fagburn heartily endorses this podcast.

Ian McKellen: The Director's Cut

Labour luvvie Sir Ian McKellen is the highest-profile celebrity so far to come out for Ed Miliband.

The Oscar-nominated actor yesterday said he was impressed by the party's manifesto for lesbian, gay and transgender people.

I wonder what he makes of Miliband's pledge to eradicate tax avoidance?

McKellen, like many artistes, is sole director of his own company, Kirikiri, through which he channels his earnings.

Last year, the company had assets of £8.3 million, boosted by income from reprising his role as the wizard Gandalf the Grey in the Hobbit film trilogy.

Companies are tax efficient as they are subject to corporation tax of 20 per cent, rather than a top rate of income tax of 45 per cent on annual incomes of more than £150,000. Expenses incurred in the line of duty can be offset against profits.

Last year, McKellen — perfectly legally — took out a loan from his own company of £1.7 million.

One tax expert says: 'In the case of a loan to a director — provided a certain minimum rate of interest specified by HMRC is charged — the borrowing is not liable for tax. Such a measure is perfectly legal, but it allows those who take advantage of the mechanism to delay when they pay tax on income earned through their company — potentially indefinitely.' ...

Your actual gay Uncle Tom - and gay Tory, obvs - Andrew Pierce in his rubbish daily election diary for the Mail.

And here is Labour's LGBT Manifesto.

PS Pink News take on Gandalf's endorsement of Labour's LGBT manifesto attracted some comment on Twitter...

Is Sir Ian McKellen maybe just a tad overdressed for a #GE2015 press conference tho? @pinknews pic.twitter.com/wQEjH6ci8X
— David Wright (@BitGay) April 22, 2015

Born That Way: Julie's Choice

None of the science dedicated to finding a gay gene holds water, so why not make a positive choice to reject heterosexuality and decide to switch sides? Julie Bindel explains why she believes she chose her sexuality, rather than it having chosen her. But, she asks, have we returned to the essentialist notion that we are either 'born that way' or that we are unthinkingly heterosexual?

The Guardian.

Can't be arsed to watch this - cos Bindel.

The thing is nobody has a clue why people are gay.

Perhaps human understanding will never reach a point where we know.

It's most likely a combination of nature and nurture.

How odd that noted binary-phobe Bindel thinks it's a straight choice between being 'born that way' or 'choosing it'.

Maybe it's just something that happens to us?

That's Gay: Or Is It!!???

Almost half of young people (49%) think the term "that's gay" is acceptable to use.

Newsbeat asked YouGov to survey 3,000 18 to 29-year-olds about where they draw the line with offence when it comes to sexuality, race and sexism.

Sexuality is the third part of a Newsbeat investigation into what words or phrases people find offensive...

Of the 12 words about sexuality which we put to the audience, "faggot" was the one that people found most offensive - 75%.

More than half of people in the survey said they would ask their friends to stop using the word if they heard it.

Just over half surveyed thought the term "lezza" was also offensive.

Many agreed the context in which a word is used is as relevant as the person who is using it...

Around (15%) didn't know if "queen" was an inappropriate term while almost 10% believed using the word homosexual was not acceptable in any circumstance...

BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat.

The video features a gripping discussion with some young faggots and lezzas, and the thoughtful insights of Jaymi from Union J!

Ed Sheeran: Faggoty Man

A video clip of Ed Sheeran using homophobic language was pulled from the internet today.

The five-minute film featured the singer in a “freestyle battle” trading insults in off-the-cuff rap verses with fellow artist Devlin.

Sheeran, who has millions of young fans worldwide, uses the word “gay” in seemingly ­negative terms and labels him a “faggoty man”.

A faggot is a derogatory term for a homosexual man.

Tonight the video was taken offline after the Mirror contacted the artist’s record label.

A notice on YouTube, where the clip was posted, said it was “no longer available due to a copyright claim by WMG”.

WMG is his label Warner Music Group.

Ed's spokesman said: “Ed was sending up rappers who make homophobic remarks. He is clearly not ­homophobic.”  ...

The star, whose album X sold more than a million copies last year, raps: “Yo, I freestyle to the faggoty man.”

He continues: “I go on the bus and I sleep for a day, then I come back and they’re like, Ed, you look like this gay.”

He adds: “These guys are safe they’re not gay mans.” ...

Gay rights charity ­Stonewall was ­unimpressed by the language.

A spokesperson said: ­“Homophobic language is a real issue in Britain, and is endemic in our schools.

“It’s important to think about the words you choose to use, as what some people see as ‘banter’ can have a ­negative and lasting effect.”

Daily Mirror.

Sometimes people are being ironic - get over it!

Nick Grimshaw: Has Harry Had Grimmy?

During a weekend largeing it in Istanbul, the fun-loving DJ filmed a Q&A with his fans via Periscope at 4.25am local time.

The clearly relaxed star filmed in bed with mate Fifi and, asked if he'd ever sleep with Harry Styles, gave a big knowing wink before collapsing into hysterics.

Team Grimmy made it clear yesterday that Nick had never slept with heartthrob Harry.

But not before shocked fans on Twitter came to their own conclusions about what they had just seen.

As Nick hosted the impromptu Q and A session he answered mundane questions including "what hair product does he use", before one cheeky fan asked if he would ever sleep with 1D's Harry.

Initially saving her friend from an awkward moment, Fifi said: "Would I ever sleep with Harry Styles? No, he's not my type."

Then she looked at Grimmy who teased fans with an over-exaggerated wink to the camera followed by a slight nod of his head and then fell into hysterics with his pal.

One fan wrote: "Nick Grimshaw just refused to deny that he'd sleep with Harry Styles on a Periscope. There's a shock." ...

Rumours have circulated of a bromance ever since Harry found fame on X Factor in 2010, forming a close friendship with Nick and mutual friend Caroline Flack.

A rep for Nick told Daily Star Online: "To be clear, Nick has not slept with Harry Styles.

"Nick absolutely denies that his response conveyed any suggestion that he had (or would) sleep with Harry Styles."

Daily Star.

Thanks for clearing that up.

PS Fagburn suspects the Star is suggesting Nick was off his nut on blood-boiling rave drugs.

Grant Shapps: A World Turned Upside Down

Mirror montage.

Wikipedia has blocked a user account on suspicions that it is being used by the Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, “or someone acting on his behalf” to edit his own page along with the entries of Tory rivals and political opponents.

The online encyclopedia, where pages are edited and created by readers, has tracked the changes made by a user called “Contribsx” who has systematically removed embarrassing references on Shapps’ Wikipedia page about the Tory chairman’s business activities as Michael Green, the self-styled millionaire web marketer.

A Guardian investigation found about a third of the contributions made by this user were to Shapps’ own Wikipedia entry while the rest are made up largely of unflattering changes to the online pages to senior political figures – including prominent figures in the Tory party such as Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, Justine Greening, the international development secretary, and Lynton Crosby, Conservative election campaign strategist.

Wikipedia says that “sock-puppetry” – creating a fake online identity “for an improper purpose, such as to mislead other editors, disrupt discussions, distort consensus or avoid sanctions” – is not permitted.

It added that it had banned Contribsx and said any evidence of future attempts to cover the user’s tracks would be investigated immediately.

The site’s administrators, selected Wikipedia volunteers who patrol the site, told the Guardian that they “believe that the account Contribsx is a sockpuppet of Grant Shapps’ previous accounts on Wikipedia ... and based on the evidence the account is either run by Shapps directly or being run by someone else – an assistant or a PR agency – but under his clear direction.”

When the Guardian first approached Shapps saying that Wikipedia would be closing down this user account because Wikipedia said it was linked to him, a spokesman for the Conservative party said: “This story is completely false and defamatory. It is nonsense from start to finish.”

When Shapps was sent a detailed exposition of the changes made by Contribsx – including posts critical of cabinet colleagues such as George Osborne – the Tory chairman did not respond.

Later, on Tuesday night, he said it was “categorically false and defamatory”.

“It is untrue from start to finish, and was quite likely dreamt up by the Labour press office. Sadly it is typical of the smears coming from those who would rather not debate policy and substance,” Shapps said...

Some of the posts made by Contribsx, which was created in the summer of 2013, illuminate Conservative divisions, focusing notably on one of the biggest rebellions in the last parliament over the issue of gay marriage – a policy that remains controversial, with traditionalists targeting liberal Tories in this election.

The rancour began after May 2013 when 134 Tory MPs voted against the government, arguing the idea would weaken the institution of marriage. Shapps was one of the MPs that had supported the leadership line that the country was ready for the change.

In the months to come, Contribsx highlighted those in the cabinet who had rebelled. In September 2013 Contribsx edited Hammond’s Wikipedia page so that it noted the then defence secretary had “been openly critical of the prime minister’s approach to the (same-sex marriage) bill saying that he was ‘shocked’ at the speed at which it was pushed through and that it ‘damaging’ for the Conservative party”.

Another edit made a few minutes later drew attention to an interview given by the then attorney general, Dominic Grieve, to his local newspaper in his Buckinghamshire constituency noting that he “was one of four members of the cabinet who abstained in the May 2013 same-sex marriage vote. He said that he believed that the bill had been ‘badly conceived’”. ...

The Guardian.

Fagburn believes this is known as 'doing a Johann Hari'. 

But what a sign of the times that a Tory MP thinks he will smear his fellow Conservatives by pointing out that they did not support equal marriage.

Fagburn has a little list of gay journalists and a well-known gay campaigner who have written much of their own Wikipedia entries, which I shall run soon.

Fagburn calls this 'Wikiwanking'. 

Chelsea Manning: Bad News

Bad news: the appeal is nearly $100,000 behind in the bills =(
— Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) April 21, 2015

Convicted Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning is asking her 50,000 Twitter followers and supporters to help foot nearly $100,000 in legal fees.

“I really need your donations to keep my appeal going, especially right now,” her account tweeted Tuesday.

Through a Twitter intermediary, Manning said attorneys would bring up conditions at Quantico as well.

“I’m still very optimistic about the case and funding for it! But I really need your help,” another tweet read.

We only have one shot to make several points in our case at the Army Court of Criminal Appeals in the next year.

Manning’s Twitter provided a link to her followers to send donations through the Chelsea Manning Support Network, as well as instructions to send directly to the Legal Defense Fund...

Politico.com

Tom Daley: Against Empire

Our Tom is in Russia right now.

Here he is pictured in the Kremlin with Chris Mears and the other one (Jack?).

This is a clear two-fingers to Nato and American empire, and all the right-wing gayers (and anti-gayers!) who've called for a boycott of Russia.

Well done Tom.
x

PS And here she is outside St Basil's cathedral (clearly mocking the dimwitted Tilda Swinton).

Hey, Dustin's not with you, Tom, I see. Hmm...

Tom returns to the Motherland in July to compete in the FINA World Championships in Kazan. *

Good luck, babes! x

* But can he be??? Fagburn seems to remember reading last year Tom was boycotting Russia cos anti-gay fascism.

Update: Tom, Russia, Gays and Stupidity, a great piece by Eruestan Brethil.

Frida: I *HEART* The 70s

“My motto is to live in peace and respect all the different religions, people’s sexualities and ethnic origins.

"I cannot tolerate people who harm others in the name of religion and I salute all those who stand up for free speech and differences of opinion.”

Frida, quoted in the Daily Express.

Not quite sure why they've put her on the front page today, her 70th birthday's not til November.

Might have lost some of its poetry in the translation.

Still, a beautiful thought - and one that Fagburn is sure is shared by everyone at the Express, Richard Desmond and his new BFF, Nigel Farage.

aTEEN: Flash

Haven't seen the new issue of aTEEN yet.

The world's first digital magazine just for young gay men is available for download now.

The cover star is posh chap, Harry Judd, aged just 29, who was in a band who were famous ten years ago.

When aTEEN's target audience were what... 10?

That's pre-Jurrasic in young gay years.

Loving all those Take A Break mis lit coverlines; 'Having one hand didn't make coming out harder.'

Eh?

Oh, and what did furry Ben Cohen, straight and a young 36, say when aTEEN asked him about his foundation's accounts?

You did ask him, yes?

Reggie Yates' Extreme Russia: Gay & Under Attack

Russia is the largest country on earth and home to nearly 150 million people. Vladimir Putin is well into his third term as president and with the West imposing tough sanctions, relations are now the frostiest since the Cold War.

Reggie Yates gets up close and personal with three very different communities in contemporary Russia. By living with them for a week, he explores what it's like for young people living here, 24 years after the fall of the Soviet Union. A year after the introduction of the controversial anti-propaganda law, Reggie finds out what life is really like for young people in what has been described as the hardest place in Europe to be gay. He travels to St Petersburg for Queerfest, a 10-day arts and culture get-together for the LGBT community. Reggie spends time on both sides of the battle lines - with the Queefest team as they face the daily fight to keep their festival open, and the homophobes who want to see it closed.

...

On the other side, Reggie meets leaders of Orthodox pressure groups like God's Will, who would stone gays to death if the law allowed it, and Vitali Milonov, the architect of the anti-gay propaganda law. Reggie ends up in a sauna, being beaten with twigs by a naked man, in a bid to understand what it means to be not just Russian in this post-Soviet era, but what it means to be a Russian man.

BBC iPlayer.

Fagburn has nothing to say beyond this exists.

If you want to partake in an Orwellian hate hour of the West's current bogeyman, feel free.

Pavlov's gays will cry on cue.

Other bad countries are available. 

Madonna: Maggie & Me

Posted on Madonna's Instagram thingy earlier today, but swiftly deleted when people pointed out she was a demented and deluded evil old witch.

Maggie, that is.

BOOM BOOM!

The Hot Maths Teacher Guy: Reveals All

Is he the hottest maths teacher in Britain? Yes, The Times.

Last line; 'The bad news is, he has a girlfriend. Sorry.'

PS Times' readers are FEWMIN!

If this article was written about a female lecturer it would belong in some lads mag.

Has this turned into a magazine for teenage girls? Clicked on this expecting some depth beneath the headline. Nope. I think Poldark has done something to the women of Britain.

This is an extraordinarily sexist article. Is The Times intentionally dumbing down like the Daily Mail?

etc etc...

PS The Mail have upgraded Pietro to 'the world's hottest maths teacher'. Fagburn wonders about the wisdom of this, when the Mail demonise all teacher-pupil relationships. 

Prison Dating: Alright Mate, What You In For, Sorry, To?

Bosses at Prison Dating are claiming “unprecedented success” with “the biggest dating site” for UK inmates.

It comes after lags were found last year to be flouting the ban and uploading snaps of drugs and weapons on social media sites.

The homepage blurb reads: “See for yourself just how easy it is to meet single prisoners in the UK.”

But lawyer John Spyrou said: “Prisoners don’t even have access to the internet.”

And a Ministry of Justice source said: “There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that prisoners have accessed this website.”

This story (that isn't) is surreal even by the Daily Star's standards.

Good to see they've started pointing out when their own stories are bollocks, though.

Hang on though, can't 'lags' get online with their smuggled-in smart phones?

Imagine having Grindr in prison - Wa-hey!

Prison Dating is open for men seeking men, btw.

Sam Smith: Ex-Fatty Still Gay

“If someone called me fat, that affects me way more than someone calling me a faggot. I think just because I’ve accepted that, if someone calls me a faggot, it’s like, I am gay and I’m proud to be gay so there’s no issues there. But if someone calls you fat, that’s something I want to change.”

Interview with Australia's 60 Minutes.

If that video won't load you can watch the new slimline Sam here.

Two words; Karen Carpenter.

PS The fat-shaming Mail are OBSESSED with Sam's recent weight loss.

UND! The ever-hapless Independent - what can that asterixed word be???