Ian McKellen: Not The Lord Of The Wedding Rings

Sunday Mirror.

Facebook Post Of The Day: Wentworth Miller

Today I found myself the subject of an Internet meme. Not for the first time.

This one, however, stands out from the rest.

In 2010, semi-retired from acting, I was keeping a low-profile for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, I was suicidal.

This is a subject I've since written about, spoken about, shared about.

But at the time I suffered in silence. As so many do. The extent of my struggle known to very, very few.

Ashamed and in pain, I considered myself damaged goods. And the voices in my head urged me down the path to self-destruction. Not for the first time.

I've struggled with depression since childhood. It's a battle that's cost me time, opportunities, relationships, and a thousand sleepless nights.

In 2010, at the lowest point in my adult life, I was looking everywhere for relief/comfort/distraction. And I turned to food. It could have been anything. Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. But eating became the one thing I could look forward to. Count on to get me through. There were stretches when the highlight of my week was a favorite meal and a new episode of TOP CHEF. Sometimes that was enough. Had to be.

And I put on weight. Big f--king deal.

One day, out for a hike in Los Angeles with a friend, we crossed paths with a film crew shooting a reality show. Unbeknownst to me, paparazzi were circling. They took my picture, and the photos were published alongside images of me from another time in my career. "Hunk To Chunk." "Fit To Flab." Etc.

My mother has one of those "friends" who's always the first to bring you bad news. They clipped one of these articles from a popular national magazine and mailed it to her. She called me, concerned.

In 2010, fighting for my mental health, it was the last thing I needed.

Long story short, I survived.

So do those pictures.

I'm glad.

Now, when I see that image of me in my red t-shirt, a rare smile on my face, I am reminded of my struggle. My endurance and my perseverance in the face of all kinds of demons. Some within. Some without.

Like a dandelion up through the pavement, I persist...

Facebook. 

The LAD Bible have said 'soz'.

Facebook: Coming Out And Selling Out

More and more Americans are coming out on Facebook — including a significant spike following the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling in June, according to data released by the website Thursday.

The Facebook network is so large that a dive into its data can sometimes offer insights about society at large. In a new study released today, the company is offering a look into the progress of the LGBT movement in the United States and the rise in coming out across the country. The arrow is pointing up for both.

“Not only has the total number of Americans who have come out on Facebook risen dramatically, but so has the number coming out each day,” Facebook said in the report, entitled America’s Coming Out on Facebook. “The number of people on Facebook coming out per day is on track to be three times what it was a year ago.”

Approximately 800,000 [American] people came out on Facebook over the past year, the study found. The total number of Americans who have come out on Facebook is currently six million, Facebook said. The company defines “coming out” as: “Updating one’s profile to express a same-gender attraction or… specifying a custom gender.” The custom gender option on Facebook has been around since 2014...

BuzzFeed.

'Coming out' seems to merge into 'are out'.

But the suggestion they chose to come out via Facebook makes for a sexier press release.

To repeat this in a headline - as all gay media have done - is dumb.

Note also it doesn't compare it with how many Americans joined Facebook last year - possibly millions.

And the report claims; 'Approximately 5.7 million Americans are fans of at least one of the 300 most popular LGBT pages'.

Good.

Well it is for Facebook, as it means they can bombard you with crappy gay ads (and often only gay ads).

Although Pink News think such obvious profiling and data-mining is just a silly Daily Mail conspiracy theory!

Humans Of New York: In No Way Is This Made-Up!

Gay Star News - et al media.

The story is about the saint-like Hillary Clinton taking some time out to personally respond to one of the millions of tweets she sees each day.

Which was AWESOME!

I see no need to question this, or that the squish-squish (stock?) photo above (posted by someone else) actually shows the little lad crying over his gayness, or to think the hype was generated by her press office.

Nor that it could be another 'Relentlsessly gay garden' waiting to happen.

Hey adorable American kid, KISS HER DRONE!

Facebook Rainbows: Take Down Your Flags

It’s now easy, popular and politically expedient to raise the rainbow flag for marriage equality, since 60 percent of Americans support it. But being an LGBT person is still difficult. In some states, it’s still legal to be fired or evicted for being gay. And the gay marriage ruling won’t end the crises of homelessness, harassment and suicide suffered by LGBT people. A record number of LGBT people, especially trans women of color, are being killed and HIV rates are still astronomically high among gay and bisexual men.

Covering your profile picture in rainbow colors doesn’t change any of those truths. Some have argued that this kind of “slacktivism” promotes awareness, motivates people to take action and could subtly persuade opponents of same-sex marriage to change their views. But a 2014 study suggested that people who make these token displays of support often do it simply to boost their own public images without making any real sacrifice to benefit the cause...

The co-opting of symbols and movements is not unique to Facebook’s rainbow-flag campaign. Throughout history, the powerful have taken credit for social progress they did not participate in, or, in some cases, actively fought against...

Facebook did not invent co-opting, but it allowed it to happen en masse this week. It gave an unprecedented number of people the power to claim understanding of a struggle they do not actually know. When millions of people cloak themselves in a symbol without understanding what it means, they dilute that symbol’s power.

Peter Moskowitz, Washington Post.

Bit pious, but kinda yeah.

PS The 26 million people who've put up a rainbow flag online will be thrilled to know Facebook is using them to spy on you.

PPS Radical Faeries and trans activists against Facebook's ban on adopted names.

Independent Voices: Over The Rainbow

Here's what one user had to say on PG Tips' Facebook page, where its monkey puppet mascot wore rainbow glasses and a rainbow neckerchief and held a rainbow mug in front of a rainbow flag:

'You shouldn't be using the character of monkey, normally associated with pg tea for political purposes…thus is no place to be promoting gays. It is a lifestyle choice, it shouldn't be imposed on the rest of us by using popukar characters.' (sic)

[Edit: The pro and anti Facebook page comments are both wonderfully woefully thick!].

While I wildly disagree with the user's ideology and esoteric approach to spelling, they did hit on a key point about brands piggybacking on political events as if it is the same thing as leeching off national holidays.

The decision of these brands to 'go rainbow' was probably varyingly motivated by everything from sincere pride to shrewd, calculated marketing strategy. For the likes of Facebook and Twitter, with shared goals of bringing people together, it made sense, for others it was problematic and disingenuous, with United Airlines adopting a 'gay friendly' Facebook cover photo despite one of its managers previously been accused of calling customers "faggots" and Uber offering a rainbow promo code in spite of the fact one of its drivers once allegedly ejected a gay couple from a car for kissing on the backseat.

For some it simply made no sense. What does it mean for the PG Tips monkey to support marriage equality? In light of previous scandals with B&Bs, it's easy to see that Airbnb declaring itself in-line with the LGBT community can be helpful to customers, but what has mid-priced tea got to do with anything? Is it with great relief this morning that thousands of Britons awake safe in the knowledge that their cup isn't going to shout bigoted slurs at them?

What does Charmin toilet roll think about gay rights? What is Mr. Muscle's view on the death sentence? So help me god I'm washing my household surfaces with ditch water until they let me know.

Christopher Hooton, Independent Voices.

This made a refreshing change from The Independent's usual happy-clappy patronising 'Hooray for the gays!' drivel where they feign getting over-excited about any rainbow-coloured corporate hooey. 

Here's today's most gushing example of pointless pink guff...

Though hilariously later today they ran this piece about why it really matters...

Facebook has denied that it was tracking people for an experiment or test, and that any information gathered would not be used for serving ads, but did not seem to say that it wasn’t tracking which people were using the tool.

“This was not an experiment or test, but rather something that enables people to show their support of the LGBTQ community on Facebook,” it told numerous news sources. “We aren’t going to use this as a way to target ads and the point of this tool is not to get information about people.”

And if you believe that...

Update: And on Wednesday lucky Independent readers were treated to a history of the rainbow flag. Wooh!

Tom Daley: Gone In 60 Seconds

Here’s my 60 second Facebook Q&A challenge! Thanks for everyone that posted their questions here last week
Posted by Tom Daley on Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Adorable!

Not to be confused with the classic YouTube video, Tom Daley - Cum In 60 Seconds.

PS Trying to figure out why I can't embed the video, bear with me caller...

Ello: Goodbye

Facebook has been the center of controversy many times, but this may be the first time that their changing of the rules may hit them where it hurts. LGBT+ users who are shocked, saddened and offended by Facebook's new "real name" policy are flocking to a new network: Ello.

If you haven't heard of Ello before this week, you're not alone. Just this morning my Facebook timeline blew up with friends offering invite codes for what I assumed was a new Gilt-like shopping site, and what turned out to be a new and friendlier social network, which would allow anyone who wanted to be a part of it be who they wanted to be, complete with the name they've chosen for themselves...

Jezebel.

A press release masquerading as news, now available to read on all gay media.

PS And when you get bored of reading re-writes of that PR puffery, here's another one about an exciting new gay magazine!

Facebook Pride: Adorable!

The Advocate.

I bet all the angry queers who rioted at Stonewall didn't dare dream we'd see such an epoch-making - and ADORABLE - day!

Facebook - putting the PR back into Pride.

'How little pleasure most people need to make them find life good, how modest man is!' Nietzsche.

Number of search results for 'adorable' on The Advocate website - 502.

On Queerty - 579.

On Gay Star News - 114, but they ain't been going long.*

And yes, they're usually barftastic sentimental stories involving marriage or kids or both.

Any gay journalist who files a story about something 'adorable' deserves to have their hands drop off.

* Couldn't get Pink News' search engine to work, Towleroad had over 5000 (!) but that included readers' comments. I could have also done searches for things 'that will warm your heart!' but was worried about choking on my own vomit.

Paul Flowers: Gay Man Has Facebook Profile, Likes Gay Stuff Shock!

The Methodist minister has yet to ­apologise to his ­congregation for his headline-grabbing antics.

Flowers, 63, is currently suspended from the two churches he looks after in Bradford, West Yorks.

But now he has caused further upset among ­parishioners by bookmarking dozens of ­erotic pages dedicated to gay men on the ­social networking site.

Among his “likes” are Manly Men, Hot Sport Guys, Bear Magazine, XXL and Grab Mag.

Many of the pages contain pictures of male models in their underwear or ­cavorting with ­other men.

He also posted a banner saying: “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not.”

Last night a ­parishioner said: “It is like he is just trying to shock for the sake of it.

“It is one thing looking at sleazy websites – whether they are for gay or straight people – in private but for him to be so open about it on his Facebook page is a little sad.

“It is almost like he has no thought for the people who worship at his churches.”

Daily Star.

If it's Sunday it must be time for another puny tabloid story about Paul Flowers!

Risible and hopeless attempt at 'investigative journalism' and mock outrage over nothing.

At the time of typing Paul's Facebook page is still up - though he doesn't appear to have been on it this year.

Fagburn has, but of course, sent this poor bugger a friend request.

Edit: Mr Flowers has accepted me as a Facebook friend - DAY MADE!

More Flowers-bashing in - surprise - the Mail On Sunday, masquerading as a business interview with Euan Sutherland, the new CEO of the Co-operative Group.

Apart from donations to the Labour Party, practically nothing else is mentioned apart from the 'Crystal Methodist' scandal.

Richard Littlejohn: Facepalm!

Daily Mail.

James Arthur: This Is Not Acceptable!

Oh FFS!

Yes, this really is "a thing".
Someone has started a Facebook page calling for James Arthur to be banned from TV because he said a bad word!
Even though he's apologised and is clearly not homophobic.
[Edit: Now even Lucy Spraggan has said he's not a homophobe].
Gay bedwetters of the world never forgive, never forget!
BURN THE WITCH!!!
The page has 9,000 likes - and counting...

Wow, what incredible support for our cause. Many people have been saying we are a hate page, and an anti- James Arthur page. However this couldn't be further from the truth. We set up this page because we do not feel that people with a history of using homophobic language should be rewarded by giving them a spot on primetime TV. James used very offensive and derogatory language on more than one occasion, and when confronted by former friend Lucy Spraggan, showed no sign of remorse, but instead mocking her support of the LGBT community. Do you really think James would have apologised had the public not pulled him up on what he said?

This takes gay hysteria, clicktivism and thought policing to a whole new level of crassness - what an avalanche of absolute fucking idiocy.
What a wonderful life you must live if stupid crap like this makes you angry.
God, there's some boring un/queer people in the world.
HAYULP!!! HAYULP!!!

Forever condemning an ill-educated [!] straight person for their disgusting language does not increase acceptance; it creates an infinite divide, at least between that individual and the queer community they may've once respected in their own way...

The punishment directed at James is hysterical (up to and including death threats). He has apologised for his behaviour but it's being drowned out: if a louder, more heartfelt attempt is made I hope the intended recipients truly listen to what he has to say: that would be an example worth setting to kids at school who associate the word 'gay' with 'bad'. There's of course still a need for militancy when it comes to LGBTQ issues - but we need to pick our battles carefully.

Jamie Tabberer, Independent Voices.

Friday's Sun: Warning, story may be rather exaggerated.
The "source" here is our old friend "anonymous" ie Mr Made-Up.

PS A posh intern writes...

Daily Star: Showbiz News 5

Oops!

Oops to infinity!!!

Epic picture fail by E! Online - Via BuzzFeed.

Faggots: Pork-Based Offal Product

Unbelievably cynical and shameless PR campaign, launched off the back of a brief computer-generated misunderstanding about the word "faggots" on Facebook.
Thus far only some online fugwits on The Telegraph and The Times have obediently reprinted their press release.
Are you that desperate for copy?

Daily Mail: I Still Like Faggots

In a swiftly updated version of this non-story, the Daily Mail have said the account was closed in error.
It was a cock-up.
Which isn't quite as much exciting as their ever-so slightly more hysterical first take when the Mail blamed it on the "FACEBOOK PC BRIGADE!!!*

*The words still appear in the story's URL...

PS Pink News just repeat The Sun's take on this, unquestioned and unchallenged and unchecked.

Presumably they think The Sun is a highly reliable source?

Do you really have such contempt for your readers!?

Gay Tory Watch: Poor Richard

Former deputy mayor of London Richard Barnes claimed his Facebook account was hacked after naked self-portraits appeared. The 65-year-old Conservative councillor for Hillingdon said he had not even seen the photos, which show the nude lower body of a naked man clutching an iPhone in front of a bedroom mirror.
The snaps appear to have been uploaded to his personal Facebook page before being swiftly deleted.
Websites including trendingcentral.com speculated the images may have been automatically uploaded using the iPhone’s iOS Facebook app.
But Mr Barnes told Metro: ‘[It was] utterly and totally a mistake. I’ve been hacked into. I’ve no idea [what happened]. I’m annoyed and shaking with anger.’
‘I’m a 65-year-old gay man on his own… It’s not the sort of thing I do. Do you really think I would be that f****** stupid after 30 years in politics?’*
He said he had a ‘lot of friends on Facebook’ and would not be quitting the website.
Mr Barnes, who served as Boris Johnson’s deputy between 2008 and 2012, said he was alerted to the images by a friend in the US and that it had all been ‘sorted out’.

London's Metro.

Another day, another scandal - is there no end to gay Tory misery?
The Daily Mail is tying up itself in knots over what can be said here; are the photos of Barnes, did he upload them by mistake, was his account hacked?
The Daily Star has some - sadly pixilated - "dick pics".
Amusingly, Fagburn understands Richard is known in City Hall as "Dick".

Comment: Even if it is Dicky, it's not illegal, and wanting sex isn't wrong. Basically, who cares?

* Fucking, probably. Hard to be sure.

• Interview with Tony Grew for Pink News in 2008, when Barnes was appointed Deputy Mayor of London.

PS Don't forget to book your tickets for the fun-packed Conservative Party Pride Conference Dinner (Supper, surely?) at Harvey Nicks in Manchester next week!

"Cost: £35 each Evening includes 3 course dinner with wine also enjoy shopping time with 10% discount!

"Guest Speaker: LBC Radio Host, Blogfather and West Ham fanatic, Iain Dale."  

Let's just hope Mrs Dale behaves herself and doesn't start beating up any pensioners again, eh?
Then it's on to G-A-Y - but don't worry, LGBTory have their own private entrance and dancefloor, so you don't have to mingle with the riff-raff.
Or risk getting beaten up by one of them.

Facebook: "Offensive" Cute Gay Boys Banned

Facebook has announced a major revamp of its advertising systems in an attempt to deal with concerns about offensive content.

There will now be new restrictions on where adverts appear on the site.
Marks and Spencer and BSkyB were among companies to suspend advertising after complaints that adverts had been placed on pages with offensive material.
The social network is now planning to remove any advertising from many of its pages.
Facebook's move follows complaints about a Sky advert promoting an M&S voucher.
The advert was placed on a Facebook page called "cute and gay boys".* The page featured photographs of teenage boys.
In a blogpost on Friday, Facebook said: "We recognize we need to do more to prevent situations where ads are displayed alongside controversial Pages and Groups. So we are taking action."

BBC News.

Hilarious.
Or it would be if it wasn't part of some mad climate of hysteria about "porn" - a word now so elastic it probably includes ladies' ankles and piano legs.
So, err, why were you looking at this filthy Facebook page, pls?
Stop looking at pictures of good-looking young men in the nud, you perv.
You ain't spending your M&S vouchers in my shop.
Ban porn!
Oh where will this prurient, prudish madness end?
When we've banned desire and we're all made to wear burkas?
FFS!

* No such Facebook page with such an unwieldy name seems to have existed. Try Googling it, and let me know.

Clicktivism: Meaningless

As SCOTUS debates the constitutionality of Proposition 8 and DOMA this week, Facebook users all over the nation have become part of a burgeoning social media trend. Supporters of marriage equality have been changing their profile pictures to the icon on the left, a version of the Human Rights Campaign logo designed specifically to indicate support for same-sex marriage rights. 
Although many people have said that it’s been personally meaningful to sign onto Facebook and see a screen full of red avatars, many have criticized the trend for being a silly way of “showing support” without actually accomplishing anything significant...

Scientific American. 

Still, if you're really committed to meaningless self-serving gestures, you could always click on an e-petition.
Or buy a crappy 'Legalize Gay' t-shirt from American Apparel, that'll show the bastards!

Dominic Elliott: 1990-2013

The media haven't been able to find out anything about Dominic - David Hockney's "friend and personal assistant" - and we don't know yet how he died.
But, you know, Hockney, old gaylord, young man, nudge-nudge wink-wink...
Journalism - beats working!

Lunch With The FT: Chris Hughes

Tandoori chicken half $14.00
Dal Makhni $13.50
Baghare Baingan $19.00
Naan $4.75
Basmati rice $5.50
Diet Coke $3.00
Sparkling water $8.00

Total (incl service) $88.76

FT Weekend - who rather likes the gays - has lunch with Facebook co-founder and unfeasibly rich gayer, Chris Hughes.
The above is what they ate.
She's said to be worth $600million, so I hope the bitch paid. 
Oh, and he's just relaunched The New Republic - now with added gay - and talks about working for Obama and that gaymarriage and you know, stuff.

PS Chris, if you're reading this, can I have twenty thousand pounds, please? It's just pocket money to you, but would mean a heck of a lot to little old me. I'll sacrifice all my loosely-held principles and say you're wonderful and have a huge schlong. I'm prepared to discuss this over a meal at Pizza Express. I've got a two-for-one voucher from the Argus, and just want a bottle of house red. Thanks.