Category Archives: Gay News

Gay News

Gay Friendly Places: Go See Them!

Leave a comment

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

I”ll start with a tribute to Denmark. In 1989 it became the first nation in the world to recognize registered same-sex partnerships. Visit its capital, Copenhagen, and have a drink at Europe’s oldest openly gay bar, Centralhjørnet. It opened in the 1950s.

2. New Zeland

I’m proud to mention New Zealand. It’s a small country that refuses to be pushed around. It defied America by not allowing nuclear submarines stations or docking places. It passed same-sex marriage in 2013, leaving Australia behind. In 1998 New Zealand was the first country to adopt the label “Gay/Lesbian Friendly”in matters of tourism and business. It is the home of the talented Topp Twins. These lesbian twins have delighted audiences with comedy, yodeling and activist singing. They dress in drag and have audiences howling in the aisles.

3.Toronto, Canada

In 2014, Toronto hosted World Pride. I was there and it was amazing. I watched police women in uniform holding hands with their girlfriends or wives. Same-sex marriage came to Canada in 2005. Spain just beat us by months. Toronto’s The Village, located in Church-Wellesley, is the cultural hub of the city, bursting with galleries, theatres and gay-friendly businesses. Home to events such as Pride Week Celebrations, Pride March and Dyke March, gay sub-culture has blossomed and thrived in The Village for decades and it will soon be home to the world’s first gay-focused athletic centre at 519 Church St.

4. Palm Springs, USA

Located approximately 100 miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a sun-seeker’s paradise where the sun shines almost all year round and where the city has embraced everything gay. Palm Springs provides the LGBTQ traveller with an amazing array of outdoor activities, excellent shopping and dining, and the world’s best poolside lounging. Palm Springs also offers the largest volume of male- and female-only accommodation anywhere in the world (many of these places are clothing-optional).

5. Sitges, Spain

Ole! Spain legalized same-sex marriage in 2005 despite forces from the Catholic Church trying to block it. History has made many Spaniards remember that the Church sided with the Fascist Dictator, General Franco, in Spain’s Civil War.

The coastal city of Sitges rests approximately 35km southwest of Barcelona. Sitges is home to Spain’s first ever gay disco which opened back in the 1980s.

Berlin

6. Berlin, Germany

While Copenhagen may have the oldest “openly gay” bar, Berlin had discrete (sometimes hidden) gay bars that can date back to the 1920s. Gay flags are flown openly outside bars and restaurants. The districts of Schöneberg (which hosts Gay Pride), Kreuzberg and Prenzlauerberg provide a diverse range of clubs, bars and restaurants for sampling. With no ‘closing time’ in Berlin, the party never ends!

7. Skiathos, Mykonos, Lesbos -Greece

When I think of Greece, I think of Sappho. Many lesbians have made the pilgrimage to the island of the goddess. Trish and I have placed it on our ‘bucket list’ of places to go. It was Jackie Onassis (wife of President Kennedy) who brought the island of Mykonos to world attention in the 1970s. Like so many Greek islands, Mykonos has it whitewashed houses flanked by the deep blue Mediterranean Sea.

For a less hedonistic holiday, the sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and pine forested hills of Skiathos offer a relaxed and authentic experience for the LGBTQ traveller

8. New York City, USA

The Stonewall riots that occurred in the late ’60s in Greenwich Village are synonymous with the birth of the modern gay-rights movement. The incredibly inclusive communities of the West Village, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen provide a fabulous array of gay-friendly accommodation options. Littered with significant LGBTQ landmarks such as Christopher St, the Harvey Milk School, the Lesbian Herstory Archives and, hello, Broadway and the Theater District, New York is a gay traveller’s mecca.

9. Reykjavik, Iceland

The world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik, has been described as one of the friendliest places and most inclusive on Earth. In 2015, Reykjavik will host its 17th Gay Pride march (one of Europe’s oldest LGBTQ parades), and the 11th Bears on Ice event. Iceland also has some of the world’s most progressive laws. In 2006, same-sex couples were granted equal rights with their heterosexual counterparts without limitation. Wander behind waterfalls, descend into dormant volcanoes, or while away a day in one of the many geothermal lagoons – this is an adventurer’s paradise.

10. Montevideo, Uruguay

What an accomplishment! Uruguay, the smallest of the South American countries, legalized same-sex marriage in 2013. It was beaten by Argentina, that legalized marriage equality in 2010.

The relaxed attitude present in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo provides a brilliant juxtaposition to the hustle and bustle of the likes of Buenos Aires.

Some of these places may be beyond your budget. However, there are ways to travel. Have you considered working on a cruise line? Would you exchange your home with a gay person(s).?

Can you take time off to house/pet sit? Would you consider working for an airline or travel agent? Then, there’s also the lottery and dreams! paula.

Paula, 2015, stories4hotbloodedlesbians.com

Gay News

Gay Marriage: Quotes of Tolerance and Inspiration

Leave a comment

“Same-sex marriage has not created problems for religious institutions; religious institutions have created problems for same-sex marriage.”

(DaShanne Stokes)

“For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe everyone deserves.” (Arnold Schwarzenegger – movie star and ex Governor of California)

“Gay people getting married is not a threat to the institution of marriage. You know what’s a threat to the institution of marriage?

Infidelity is! Hate is! Unforgiveness is! Apathy is! Coldheartedness is! Fear is!

And you know what’s a threat to the kids?

It’s not having gay parents!

Most gay kids have straight parents!

And plenty of gay parents raise respectable, straight kids!

The threat to children isn’t their parents being gay;

the threat to children is their parents not loving one another!

Not caring for one another!

Not being crazy about each other!

Domestic violence is a threat to children.

Stupidity is a threat to children.

A swimming pool in the backyard with no supervision is a threat to children!”

(C. JoyBell C.

Gay marriage will be universally accepted in time. But if I may be so bold as to say to gays and lesbians, don’t wait for that time to arrive.

Just as my father and his generation did not ‘wait’ for their civil rights, nor should you. The toothpaste ain’t going back in the tube. The tide has turned. John Ridley)

I support gay marriage. I believe they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us. (Kinky Friedman

People should be allowed to marry, and gay marriage should be out there. If a man or a woman has a good partner and they love each other with their heart and soul, let them marry. I am very much for gay marriage. (Pierce Brosnan (actor)

“New Rule: Gay marriage won’t lead to dog marriage. It is not a slippery slope to rampant inter-species coupling.

When women got the right to vote, it didn’t lead to hamsters voting.

No court has extended the equal protection clause to salmon. And for the record, all marriages are “same sex” marriages. You get married, and every night, it’s the same sex.”

Paula, 2018, stories4hotbloodedlesbians.com

Gay News

Best Paid and Free Gay Dating Apps

Leave a comment

There are paid and free versions of the gay dating applications in the list, and the information is based on the information on the websites.

You can comment if there are gay dating apps you want added, you and the app developers are responsible for any responsibility that may occur in the apps.

The applications in this article are for informational purposes only.

The order is mixed.

GayCupid

GayCupid is a premier Gay dating site helping gay men connect and mingle with other gay singles online. Sign up for a free membership to start browsing 1000s of fantastic gay personals from around the world. Take advantage of our advanced messaging features to interact with gay men online.Join GayCupid free today!

GayCupid is part of the well-established Cupid Media network that operates over 30 reputable niche dating sites. With a commitment to connecting gay singles worldwide, we bring to you a safe and easy platform to use to help you meet your match.

Whether you’re looking for love locally or internationally, we are committed to helping you find the perfect match, no matter where in the world he may be.

GayCupid is a premium gay dating app designed to connect thousands of gay singles and help them find their perfect match, making us one of the most trusted gay dating apps. Whether you are looking for love locally or internationally we are committed to helping you find your perfect gay partner. With the GayCupid mobile app, you can create a new account and begin writing your love story in a matter of minutes. Join now and start browsing profiles!

Once installed, the GayCupid app allows you to:

• Sign up or log into your GayCupid account anytime, anywhere

• Create, edit and update your profile on the go

• Upload new photos

• Search for matches from our database made up of gay singles from all over the world

• Communicate via our advanced messaging features

• Receive instant notifications

• Upgrade your membership

Hornet

Your Hornet Profile is a portrait of you. It displays posts from the moments of your life, showcasing you and your interests. Inviting guys to connect with you in a meaningful way – based on who you are, and what you’re passionate about.

The Hornet Feed is all about connecting you to your community. Through trends and stories, there is always a conversation to be had – making interacting with other guys easy by liking and commenting on their posts, or starting a conversation through chat.

Discover all the fun and fabulous of the gay community with Hornet’s acclaimed editors, thousands of community leaders, your friends, and the guy next door.

Whether you’ve just come out or are ready to join in – Hornet gives you immediate access to over 25 million guys and is only a download away.

CONNECT

PROFILES are rich portraits of yourself and others featuring photos and posts giving a fuller picture of you and those you want to connect with

CONNECTING is easy – liking and commenting on posts, and sending heartstings makes for quick introductions

CHAT with guys about mutual interests based on profiles that show you who they are and allow them to see who you are

FOLLOW your friends and anyone you want to stay connected with to see their posts, pictures, and videos on their feed

DISCOVER

FILTERS enable you to find exactly who you’re looking for and where you can find them

EXPLORE the guys in your neighborhood or anywhere around the globe

HASHTAGS allow you to discover other guys who share the same interests to make a connection

JOIN

JOIN over 25 million users on Hornet across the globe

BE A PART of discussions with Community Leaders on current topics and learn about the hottest trends all curated by Hornet’s team of editors and a worldwide network of influencers

MEET anyone anytime – there’s always someone online

SHARE

THE FEED features posts by guys you follow, guys nearby, influencers, and guys we think you’ll want to connect with

POSTS reflect you and your interests allowing others to respond to everything you post

SAFETY

PRIVACY is at the heart of Hornet – it’s designed by the gay community, for the gay community, built with privacy front and center

MODERATORS and staff of Hornet ensure the community is a safe space for you to express yourself

SUPPORT is free and always available 24/7

Grindr

Grindr is the world’s #1 FREE mobile social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people to connect. Chat and meet up with interesting people for free, or upgrade to Grindr XTRA for more features, more fun, and more chances to connect.

Grindr is faster and better than ever:

• NEW – Assemble your crew with Group Chat!

• See people nearby based on your location

• Browse re-designed profiles with bigger photos

• Chat and share private photos

• Filter your search to find what you want

• Customize your profile to share more about yourself

• Star your favorites and block others

• Report people easily and safely

• Send your location and make it easier to meet

• More ways to quickly find what you’re looking for

• More ways to chat with people around the world

Create and personalize your profile now to include more about you, what you’re looking for, and more. Within minutes you’ll be ready to connect, chat, and meet.

Looking for even more? Upgrade your Grindr experience to XTRA for more features, more freedom and more fun. Grindr XTRA subscription features include:

• No 3rd party ads

• See 6x the profiles, up to 600 at once

• View only people who are online now

• View only profiles with a photo

• More blocks and favorites

• Access to all premium filters

• Chat easily with saved phrases

• Send multiple photos at once

Scruff

SCRUFF is the top-rated and most reliable app for gay, bi, trans and queer guys to connect.

SCRUFF is an independent, LGBTQ owned and operated company, and we use the app that we build.

We’re proud to give users a private and secure experience, a friendly and diverse community, and more features than any other gay dating app.

We’re dedicated to protecting our members’ data and improving user experience, so you’ll never see banner ads on SCRUFF and we won’t sell your data to shady 3rd party companies.

MAKE REAL CONNECTIONS:

15+ million guys, no spambots.

Find exactly the guys you like by using SCRUFF’s powerful search and filters.

View and chat with guys from your neighborhood or around the world.

SCRUFF connects you with the guys you like.

CONNECT IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS:

SCRUFF gives users all kinds of ways to find all types of connections:

Browse and chat with guys from your neighborhood or around the world.

Use powerful search and filters to find exactly who you’re into.

See a new stack of guys every day on SCRUFF Match – the more you swipe, the smarter it gets about what you’re looking for.

EXPRESS YOURSELF:

SCRUFF makes it easy to show all sides of who you are:

Share your story with multiple profile pics, rich profiles, private albums and more

Let guys know what you’re into with profile details like sex preferences and safer-sex practices.

HOSTING:

SCRUFF hosts the world’s first live queer quiz show:

10 questions over 3 rounds — get all 10 right and get a piece of the cash prize (up to $500)

See who’s playing nearby and see who’s been eliminated from the game

Woof and fav to make a connection during or after the game

MATCH:

Find guys looking for the same thing with SCRUFF Match:

Every day, SCRUFF Match shows you a new stack of guys who are looking for guys like you.

Swipe left to pass, right if you’re interested — if it’s a match, we’ll let you both know.

Choose “Ask later” if you’re not sure about him, and we’ll show him again tomorrow.

SCRUFF EVENTS:

Your social guide to LGBTQ events, curated daily by our team.

RSVP, see who else is going, and find your wingman.

Browse the top LGBTQ parties, prides, festivals, and events near you or around the globe.

Be entered to win free upgrades to SCRUFF Pro when you RSVP and attend “SCRUFF Recommends” events.

SCRUFF VENTURE:

Your global gay travel companion:

Let guys know when you’re visiting and ask locals for tips.

Share your travel plans on your profile, so guys in your destination city know you’ll be there soon.

Chat with local guys at your destination before you arrive.

A SMARTER, SAFER EXPERIENCE:

SCRUFF prioritizes our users’ safety and security:

No spambots, no programmatic advertising

24/7 support for our community

We never share your data with Facebook, 3rd party ad networks or data aggregators.

Unlike other apps, message history, photos, and videos sync across your devices and never get lost.

More Bears in More Places…we are a global community with over 10,000,000 members worldwide. GROWLr allows you to meet other Bears from around the world or around the corner.

GROWLr

GROWLr is free, fast, reliable and easy to use.

A Bear is a gay man who belongs to a very inclusive part of the gay community. Some are hairy, some are muscular, and some are heavy-set and some are none of those things. Being a bear is about being yourself – we are all amazing no matter how we are labeled.

Bear Chasers are the men who love Bears – and if you’re a Chaser you’ve come to the right place! More Bears in More Places.

It’s the perfect way to meet guys and make friends whether you are sitting at home or traveling abroad. Send and receive private instant messages, live video calls, pictures and video.

We also have an amazing Event section with complete and up-to-date Bear Run and Bear Bar listings. Tons of Galleries, Check-in features, Notes and More.

GROWLr allows only males 18 years or older. Photos depicting nudity or sex acts are strictly prohibited.

MR X is the first and only gay chat and gay dating app for men over 30. The guys on MR X are real men: confident, strong, down-to-earth men who have experience in the things that matter. Whether you’re over 30 — or just love grown men — it’s time to meet mister right or mister right now.

With more than 1 million profiles, gay chatting and dating are only a few taps away. MR X, the gay dating app makes it fun and easy for gay, bi, and curious guys to meet each other. Find great dates and make new friends with this free gay app for dating!

FEATURES

– Multiple Views: More ways to view the men on your screen. See who’s nearby, who’s far away, who’s interested in you and more.

– Adjust Views: Once you’ve chosen a view, fine-tune it to see the men you’re most interested in. Want to talk to someone right now or looking to meet that hot jackd guy you just saw at the gym? See who is closer to you or sort by last login. Use the age filter to zero in even more. Customize to keep things fresh.

– Better Profiles: Upload up to 25 photos to public and private galleries and spend less time sending pics back and forth and more time chatting to gay guys. Get into detail with profile text up to 3,000 characters.

– MR Right feature learns what kinds of men you like and sends you personalized introductions everyday

– Matches: We’ll let you know when you and another member both “Like” each other

MR X MEN

So, what kinds of gay men will you meet on MR X? Suit-and-tie professionals and carefree outdoorsmen; tattooed gay guys and big hairy bears; bearded guys, guys with facial scruff, bald guys, jocks, and muscle daddies. They all share the screen on MR X.

MR X is not another gay hookup style App, MR X men are straightforward, honest and generally friendlier than guys on other apps. They’ll tell you if they’re husky or skinny, if they’re HIV-positive or negative, if they’re 52 or 25. And they’re proud of who they are. Most of our members agree to the Code, a shared set of values regarding mutual respect and safety.

MR X PREMIUM

Get even more features when you upgrade to our premium subscription service:

– See up to seven times as many men as you would on the free version.

– Online-Only Mode lets you check out only who’s logged in and ready to talk right now.

– The Travel Feature allows you to pick any city and scan the MR X scene there.

– Read Message Notifications let you know the second your message is seen by the recipient.

– The Private Photo Bucket gives you the power to send additional photos more quickly and store your photos within MR X. That way, any risqué shots don’t have to sit in your iPhone albums where snooping friends or relatives might find them.

– MR X Premium also gives you unfiltered, unlimited access to misterapp.com where you can do advanced searches on dozens of different criteria.

MR X PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION

Visit mrxapp.com/app/magnum to see a list of MR X Premium features. Choose a one-month ($9.99) or three-month ($24.99) subscription. Subscriptions auto-renew until cancelled. Payment for all purchases will be charged to your iTunes account upon confirmation of your purchase. Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period (one month for monthly subscribers or three months for quarterly subscribers) unless you change your subscription preferences in your iTunes account settings. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during an active subscription period.

MRX is for men over 18 years old only. Photos that display nudity or are sexually suggestive will be removed immediately. Please visit mrxapp.com/app/tos to see our terms of use and privacy policies.

MANHUNT is the most iconic gay social app for gay, bi, trans, and queer guys worldwide. Manhunt is the most direct way for men to meet other men. Being around since 2001 has allowed Manhunt to attract the older and wiser crowd of guys. Narrow your search based on interests, photo filters, and location. Chat with millions of men online now via your existing account or by creating a new one for free. So what are you waiting for? Cut to the chase with Manhunt now.

FEATURES:

* Millions of men

* See who’s checking you out

* Profiles with up to 16 photos

* Message notifications

* Photo editor

* Unlock private photos

* Easy filters

* Buddy & Block lists

* Share your location

* Send winks

* Worldwide search

MANHUNT VIP FEATURES:

* Unlimited full profile views

* Unlimited full-size photo views

* Unlimited Conversations

* Unlimited Starred Conversations

* Unlimited Buddies & Blocks

* Complete Conversation History

* Unsend unread messages

* Additional photo editing tools

* Banner ad-free experience

With loads of free features, ROMEO is the best way to meet new people & friends and have meaningful or more casual encounters.

Get the free ROMEO App now and chat with lots of gay guys, nearby and worldwide. Create your profile and start chatting and video calling within minutes!

10 ROMEO App features you’ll LOVE:

● A fresh and intuitive design

● There is no limit to the number of guys you see around you

● Free chat and video calling

● Browse profiles with lots of pictures and information to find your match

● Create your customised profile and share what you are into

● Plenty of filter options for you to find the guys you like

● Discover new guys in your area

● See who recently came online

● Hide your real GPS position

● Set your location to anywhere in the world with our travel feature

● Share your private pics for a limited time

● Connect and chat with LGBTQ+ guys around the world

ROMEO, also known as Planetromeo or Gayromeo, is one of the world’s most exciting dating app and social network for the gay and bi guys and trans people. We embrace diversity and support our global LGBT+ family. Our apps and website provide a friendly online space for gay guys to hang out, chat, meet and date.

ROMEO

Dates Friends Love

● Website version also available

● ROMEO App is for guys aged 18 and over.

Thanks for considering the free ROMEO App! We’d love to hear from you guys, so don’t hesitate to leave us a review!

Gay dating has never been easier. Chat with your date, find love and make friends. Happy dating!

Jack’d

Diverse. Inclusive. Fun! This is what distinguishes Jack’d from all other queer dating apps. With 5 million people spanning 2,000 cities in 180 countries, we’re proud to be the most inclusive dating app for QPOC.

Jack’d is an independent, LGBTQ+ owned and operated company, and we use the app we build. We believe in the power of technology to create community and to connect with each other. Whether you’re looking to chat, make friends, find love, or keep it casual, you’ll find it on Jack’d.

New and improved Jack’d features you’ll love:

REDESIGNED PROFILES:

Swipe through multiple pics and quickly message, favorite, or unlock private photos

DISCOVER:

A new way to connect with other people based on recent activity

BROWSE:

See everyone nearby or expand your view to people around the globe

SEARCH & FILTERS:

Search by who they are, what they’re into, relationship status, and more

VIEWERS:

See who’s viewed your profile for free

MESSAGING:

Streamlined design makes it easier to chat and connect

PRIVATE ALBUMS:

Easily organize and share your photos and videos

VIDEO SHARING:

You can now send and receive unlimited private videos

MATCH:

See a new group of compatible matches every day and swipe up to view their full profile

UPGRADED EXPERIENCE:

Updated technology, improved stability, better spam protection, and fewer ads

SAFE & SECURE:

We never share your data with Facebook, 3rd party ad networks, or data aggregators.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT:

Our support team is available 24/7 to help with any questions or feedback.

Ready for more? Upgrade your Jack’d experience for more features and more freedom. With a Jack’d Pro subscription, you get:

* 1,000 people in your Nearby grid

* Unlimited favorites & blocks

* Unlimited Matches

* Unlimited private album photos

* More search filters & profile insights

* See everyone who viewed you

Question? Comments? We’re available any time at support.jackd.com.

Jack’d Privacy Policy: jackd.com/privacy

Jack’d Terms of Service: jackd.com/to

Gay News

Tim Cook: Being Gay is God’s Greatest Gift

Leave a comment

Tim Cook, who has made history as the first CEO to announce that he is gay among the top 500 companies in the world, mentioned being gay as the ‘greatest gift of god’ and stated that he made the statement to support those who were oppressed because of their sexual orientation.

“I explained it because kids who read the rumors that I was gay on the internet started writing to me. In the letters and emails they told me that they were ostracized, bullied and abused because of their sexual orientation,” said Apple CEO, who emphasized privacy, but ultimately helped others by revealing his sexual identity. He said he decided it would be selfish to remain silent while he could.

“I had to do something for them,” said Cook, adding that he wanted to show gay kids that they can move forward in life the way you are and achieve great things.

Expressing that he was ‘shocked’ when he learned that Fortune was the first CEO to announce his homosexuality in the 500 largest companies index, Cook expressed his satisfaction that other CEOs followed in his footsteps.

“I learned what it means to be a minority. The feeling of being a minority gives people a certain level of empathy for other people who are not in the majority. This is also very useful for a leadership role, very instructive. gave the message.

Underlining that he is ‘proud of being gay and explaining it’, Cook emphasized “God’s greatest gift to me”.

Gay News, LGBTI News

Israeli Rabbi: COVID-19 Vaccine Will Make You Gay

Leave a comment

Rabbi Daniel Asor told his followers in a recent sermon that they should avoid being vaccinated against COVID-19 as doing so could “turn them” into homosexuals, according to Israel Hayom.

The Rabbi shared conspiracy theories with his followers, claiming that the vaccines are manufactured by a “global malicious government,” the Jerusalem Post reported.

Daniel Asor’s claimed that the “malicious government” is a mix of “secret societies,” including the Illuminati, and the Freemasons.

The secret societies seek to establish a new order in the world, he claimed.

Israeli media criticized the Rabbi, who urged his followers to not receive the vaccine at the time when other religious authorities ask people around the world to respond favorably to the vaccination campaign.

Several countries received COVID-19 vaccines, including the UK, Saudi Arabia, among other.

Rabbi Daniel Asor’s assertion goes against decrees issued by leading rabbis in Israel and around the world, who have called on ultra-Orthodox society to take every precaution against the global pandemic, including getting vaccinated.

Gay News

Swedish Migration Agency Officers Loves Vacations

Leave a comment

When you have lost all your expectations, you can only care about your life; I mean “breathing, eating and sleeping” without any feeling, like an animal.

I am a gay man from Turkey, the vacation paradise for most Europeans and tourists. I don’t know if we can calculate an “average human lifetime”, but if it were 75 years, I already spent 1/3rd of it hiding myself and begging for respect and acceptance in this paradise. I gladly accept that, okay, my country is geographically heavenly, but nobody should forget this: a place could only be livable when you know and love everyone who lives there.

I am a young gay who is not able to feel young anymore. I wasted 25 years of my life for just acceptance of others. I heard this kind of advice a million times from Swedes: “why do you care what others think, it’s your life…” But trying to get this acceptance is not for love, it’s about surviving.

Discrimination gets in the way of pride in daily life, and I experienced every kind of it. I was never able to be who I am in public, in school, with my family. I tried to live in different cities in Turkey before coming to Sweden. It was not easy to say goodbye to everything I had. Every city in Turkey has different kinds of people, who mostly think the same about gays. Some of them assessed me as a sinner, some of them as a pervert, some of them as a shame, some of them as worthless, but it was the very rare person I ever met in my life who assessed me as a human.

“But then, I was moving less to win their love and more to avoid my family.”

Swedes have also asked me many times “why is it such a big deal for the families, it’s none of their business”. Yes, in my paradise it is a big deal. “Disowning” and “discrimination” – these words sounded lovely to me, because at least they would have meant I wasn’t going to get murdered.

The police are liable to protect everyone in the country; I experienced that their “everyone” does not include me. Once I went to a police station after being attacked by four people in Istanbul – which is a metropolis and which should be more accepting than other cities – because for a moment I walked hand in hand with a man. They laughed at me, “what did you expect, of course they will throw bottles at you; you didn’t expect them to throw flowers did you?” … Did I?

Another time I spoke to police on a street in Istanbul in the early morning hours. They stopped me without any reason and one of them started to humiliate and bully me, saying the usual things. I was scared, but then I suddenly also was furious and I answered him “yes I am gay, I am a faggot, why – do you want to test what I am for yourself?”; I was up against a car the moment after that under the policeman’s hands. After these two lovely meetings with policemen, trusting the police is over for me.

At the Swedish migration board they asked if the Turkish courts can protect me. This is a country where a 13 year old girl, N.Ç., was raped by 26 different men, most older than her father. She had to have four surgeries because of it. The judge told her, “oh my daughter, why did you seduce these men?” He didn’t punish these men for rape. The court only sentenced them for having (consensual!) sex with a girl under the age of 15. It’s still kind of a nightmare for me. I can’t imagine the girl’s nightmares.

But think about it for a moment: if they can’t see that a 13-year-old girl is innocent and needs protection, how do you think they view an adult man like me, having sex with men?

I was studying to be a teacher, but it became impossible because of gossip spreading. Nobody saw me with a man, but gossip is enough to ruin you and put your life at risk. A career would now be impossible because according to them, nobody wants to work with a “bad role model, perverse, abject teacher”.

I will never be able to demand my family’s protection and love; their traditions and their religion are both on me. I am a dirt stain on their family tree, the family’s blood; the only way to clean this blood is by killing me. They can survive without me but they can’t survive without their priceless honour.

I tried to change these people, but their minds didn’t allow me; it goes too deep. I wasted 25 years just hiding reality. I need a little bit freedom, I need hold a man’s hand while I am walking, I need a measure of respect.

Now, tell me: how can I call this country a paradise, as lovely European vacationers did? Don’t speak about life in Turkey based on what travel guides say.

Anil Absolution

Gay News, LGBTI News

Greece’s First Openly Gay Minister

Leave a comment

Nicholas Yatromanolakis has made history by becoming Greece’s first openly gay minister in a cabinet reshuffle in the center-right government.

Nicholas Yatromanolakis, 44, has been promoted from the position of general secretary at the ministry to become the new minister of culture.

Alexis Patelis, the Greek Prime Minister’s chief economic advisor said in a tweet that, it was a “historic day for LGBTI+ representation, a big win for meritocracy and better decision-making through diversity”.

“Congrats to Nicholas Yatromanolakis for showing you can be yourself and still succeed,” he added. “May others draw strength to live their life openly.”

Nicholas Yatromanolakis’ Political Life

Before entering politics in 2014 as a founding member of the now-defunct centrist party Potami, Yatromanolakis worked in marketing and communications for companies including Microsoft and has a masters in public policy from Harvard.

“For a long time … I felt I had to choose and that there were identities that could never be compatible with one another,” said Yatromanolakis, who left To Potami in 2016 and joined the government in 2019.

He rejected the suggestion that his appointment to the culture ministry might be viewed as tokenism.

“People do not understand and see that the (cultural) sector… creates jobs, creates opportunities,” said Yatromanolakis, who used to work for a cultural center housing the country’s national opera and library.

He said his priorities in the job included channeling state financial aid to people working in the arts during the pandemic.

Asked what measures the government could take to support LGBTI+ people, Yatromanolakis said he wanted better implementation of existing anti-discrimination laws, including training in private companies and government bodies.

“No person growing up should feel they have to choose between who they are and what they want to become in life,” he said.

“I wish someone else was first before me … (but) if this helps people who have problems because of who they are … then it’s worth it.”

Gay News, Lesbian News

Lesbian seeking gay man for marriage

Leave a comment

The app, called Queers, allows gay men to connect to a network of over 4000 lesbians in order to enter into a ‘co-operative marriage’.

The agreement which is referred to as a ‘xinghun’ in China, operates much like the Western notion of a beard, whereby a person may date someone in order to conceal their sexuality.

Users of the app have explained a xinghun allows them to continue with the appearance of heterosexuality and conceal their sexuality from oftentimes conservative parents.

Although China decriminalised homosexuality in 1997, many of the nation’s older generation still view being lesbian or gay as a mental illness (China removed the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder in 2001).

Founder of Queers, Liao Zhuoying said since the app launched two weeks ago, he has had over 10,000 users sign up.

Liao said Queers was a by-product of his company’s dating and meet-up apps, Gaypark and Lespark. He told the South China Post he had noticed a section of gay men were searching for lesbian wives whilst on his sites so he conducted a survey to canvas the needs of his community and Queers was born…

Gay News

Online Gay Dating Safety

Leave a comment

Much as I think online dating services are a great way to meet men, there is to a degree a darker side to these places. But then, you could also say the same about any other place that men go to meet other men.

However, one of the things about online dating services, pick up spots, chat lines and other similar places, is that quite often one is given either complete anonymity or the sense of anonymity.

Being anonymous can be nice, but with it comes an element of risk when it comes to finding dates online.

Personally, I have never had any major problems arise from meeting with guys that I’ve found on the Internet.

One of the reasons for such good fortune is because I’ve always used a pretty selective process in just who I’ll meet. I’ll admit that I haven’t always gone out with great guys as a result but I have been able to eliminate the truly questionable guys.

Lets face it; all sorts of people log onto the Internet and some of those people are just plain creepy to say the least.

I do know people that haven’t been as lucky as me. Fortunately, none of them met with actual violence. They did receive threats though; which was scary enough.

I’ve read a lot of “rules for dating safely” and here’s the problem I have with most of them…They’re mostly one sided.

For instance, it’s a little much to expect a guy to give you their phone number, (home and/or work) so that you can verify their story and existence, if you’re not willing to do the same. A lot of these tips or “rules” tell you to do just that — get their info but don’t give out your’s.

Here’s my general rule of thumb…If you’re not willing to divulge some aspect of your life or a specific about yourself; don’t expect to receive that type of information from the other guy.

The best piece of advice I can give you and one of the few hard and fast “dating safety rules” that I’ll give, is to use your best judgment and exercise some common sense; regardless of how you meet other men.

Other Safety Tips You Might Want To Consider:

• Ask for a recent photo of the guy; if you’ve got questions in your mind ask for photo ID.

A friend of mine was starting to have serious questions about a guy they had been chatting to online…When asked for photo ID, the guy emailed my friend an obviously doctored driver’s license. The friend decided not to meet the guy and the threats started pouring in…

• Agree to meet in a mutually chosen location; one that has a lot of other people around.

• Let someone know that you’re going on a date with someone you’ve just met. Give them, (a friend possibly) the “Who, What, Where, When” details.

• Write the details of your date down on a piece of paper and stick it to your fridge or someplace that people will find if the worst actually happens.

• Try and find out a little about the other guys background or life; that way you can look for any inconsistencies either before or during the actual date.

• Don’t go someplace or do something that you’re not comfortable with.

• Trust your gut instincts! If something feels or sounds fishy; don’t ignore it. Actually, this rule isn’t optional — this is the second hard and fast rule that I’ll give.

Remember, going on a date and meeting guys online is supposed to be fun but be careful out there so that you can keep on having fun meeting neat, interesting and sexy guys.

Gay News

Gay Dating

Leave a comment

Life is full of drudges and undeserved, I assure you, but there is still time this minute to whet your spear, cure your weakness, and make yourself a hero once again!

Dating for gays is a pesky dilemma. The hours you spend hunta’ the one (one more than one, in some cities) is meant to be consumed by the company you keep and the outings you create together (fect)! Yet when your muscles have gone tired and your heart has gone clammy, it may be best to deliver yourself unto the acquaintance just as a spear on a painted stone, an arrow at the ready. Do it Quick, but do it timidly. Dating for gays must not be grises en hautescé (hideous?) but instead, a fashion in progress. In other words, don’t try to be fresh as a daisy but instead, show the sausage coming at all.

Dating for gays does not have to be time-consuming but it sure does demand patience. It takes a lot of perseverance but then, the prospective of a true relationship will forever remain a hot potato in the mind.

Dating for gays does not have to be complicated, but it sure does demand its due. It is said that the first impression is the only impression, but shouldn’t that be applied to the various other possible aspects of a person’s personality? Coming late to an agreed meeting because you arrived at the wrong venue, a mistaken set-up or even a misstep on your part can be unforgivable. Being a person able to blend into any aspect of society while being an ardent and confident flirt is also something to be admired. Coming from a gay perspective, perhaps it can be generalized that,

1) being a closet hater is not the basis for dating;

2) self- trilogying is not acceptable when it comes to a good correspondence; and

3) hiding your sexual preference is a measure of emotional insecurity.

Dating for gays does not have to be painful. Hanging out a little bit, staying in the same part of the club, and even a orthodox wedding can give the gay individual an additional slew of confidence that is most sorely needed during the times when the individual is at his most comfortable. Alright, so the end of the date may have gone well, but the dating gay works his way through the miles to attain his goal during the initial stages of the relationship.

It’s an ironic phenomenon that the dating style adopted by so many gay individuals is one of the most common ways through which laziness has set in. Whenever every other person is having fun, catching the bar camper with his top on or coming in late for a screening, and yet when he stays loyal to the club he belongs to, his peers declare him as a guy who belongs in the “gal pal’s” circle, and not in the “woman’s” one.

No matter what method you may use to finally meat up for your chosen meat, be it a dance club, bar or as we, the ever righteous generation of gay, love to call it, the pleasure of dating for gays is to be found. Though hearing them say that love is blind, it seems that the ultimate Blind Faith gives the gay individuals the confidence to go on a sizzle.

Written by AI