places to go, people to meet

Tim's Blog – July 2008 Archive (22)

Mexico - President promises to fight homophobia & more support for HIV/AIDS

Mexico's Government will give extra support to campaigns to stamp out homophobia, according to the country's President, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. That's what he told those were at a meeting with representatives of the country's GLBT groups and organisations working with those living with HIV/AIDS.

The Federal Government is also going to look at ways of improving access to HIV drugs.

More en español at… Continue

Added by Tim on July 31, 2008 at 12:00 — No Comments

Australia: - Banned steroids hidden in lube marketed to gay men

It seems that some brands of lube in Australia do more than just make things slip in and out more smoothly...

More than 150 bottles of banned liquid steroids, disguised as sex lubricant from Thailand, have been seized by Customs officials.

The agency says it is now investigating a sophisticated drug smuggling network.

Customs seized the oil in raids in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and… Continue

Added by Tim on July 30, 2008 at 10:44 — No Comments

Ryanair makes a loss - but it could be good news for passengers

The Irish low-cost airline - which flies to and from a wide range of European destinations - is about to go into the red for the first time in 20 years. Ironically, this could spell even better bargains for passengers.

Ryanair said it would plunge from a profit last year of €439m (£348m) to a loss of up to €60m in 2009 if fuel costs stay high and render many of its cheap flights unprofitable.

The airline was also forced… Continue

Added by Tim on July 29, 2008 at 0:27 — No Comments

Spain - Las Palmas Carnaval 2009

The annual Carnaval in the capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, lasts just over three weeks, and is one of the biggest and wildest in the world - one of the largest after Rio.

It's well worth coming here to be part of the Carnaval season, which also sees similar events in towns across the island (most notably in the tourist area of Maspalomas, following on from the capital's… Continue

Added by Tim on July 26, 2008 at 15:30 — No Comments

Chipper wins hearts, but doesn't win Spain's Idol show

Stanley Miller Cooke III - aka Chipper - eventually came third in Spain's Operación Triunfo, and after a hug and a kiss with husband Carlos, drove off in his free Fiat Bravo. Nonetheless, he's won a lot of hearts, not least in the town of Alzira in the Valencia region, which decided to "adopt" him, and held a huge street party to cheer… Continue

Added by Tim on July 23, 2008 at 20:00 — No Comments

Golden Girls star Estelle Getty dies

The actress Estelle Getty, who played Sophia in the TV comedy series The Golden Girls, has died aged 84. She'd been suffering from dementia for some years.

Estelle's character was the mother of Dorothy, played by fellow actress Bea Arthur, who said "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her."

The Golden Girls achieved an enduring popularity… Continue

Added by Tim on July 23, 2008 at 12:30 — No Comments

Erotic sculpture shocks tourists on a Spanish beach

An exhibition of sculpture by artist Antoni Miró has caused a big debate amongst locals and tourists alike on the beachfront at Javea, not far from Alicante in Spain. This video is in Spanish, but you'll get the gist of it.

It consists of cast iron cut-outs based on erotic images from Ancient Greek pottery, and as well as heterosexual images, including masturbation, the use of dildos and more, there are also images of homosexual sex.

The local… Continue

Added by Tim on July 23, 2008 at 12:00 — 1 Comment

Spain: Madrid Gay Pride organisers denounced for "promoting hatred of Catholics"

Though in many ways modern Spain is an open and tolerant democracy, there are still sections of society here who would like to turn the clock back.

A right-wing family organisation called HazTeOir is taking legal action against the organisers of this year's Gay Pride march in Madrid for inciting what it calls cristianophobia and inciting religious hatred.

It's not the… Continue

Added by Tim on July 21, 2008 at 10:36 — No Comments

Final countdown to the EuroGames in Barcelona

This is just one of the posters all over Barcelona this week as the city welcomes the 2008 EuroGames, the biggest athletic event for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people in Europe. The opening ceremony takes place in the Palau Sant Jordi, the Olympic Pavillion of Barcelona'92, at 9.00 pm on the 24th, with a gospel choir,… Continue

Added by Tim on July 21, 2008 at 1:30 — 3 Comments

Chipper is over the rainbow in Spain's Idol

Chipper's performance (complete with red shoes - how camp is that!) of Somewhere Over The Rainbow has put him among the winners of this year's Operación Triunfo.

It's further evidence - if any was needed - of how attitudes to gay men have changed and are maturing here. Chipper's now guaranteed the opportunity of a long career as… Continue

Added by Tim on July 16, 2008 at 11:00 — 5 Comments

Taboos and discrimination increase rates of HIV infection in Asian gay men

According to latest figures, India now accounts for roughly half the estimated HIV-infected population of Asia (around 2.5 million people - plus 3 out of 4 of those living with HIV in Asia are men). Not surprisingly this is causing concern.

Sex between men and the fact that gay relationships continue to be considered taboo in Asia could lead to an increase in HIV prevalence in the region, a report has said.

According to… Continue

Added by Tim on July 15, 2008 at 11:00 — No Comments

UK: Nature or nurture - Barrowman fronts a TV show on why we're gay

The British actor John Barrowman (photographed above by Sarah Lee), who's a highly recognisable face in UK showbiz and an out gay man, is the presenter of an edition of a new BBC TV show The Making of Me which explores current evidence on whether or not we're born gay. He's been talking about it - and other issues - to the UK newspaper The… Continue

Added by Tim on July 14, 2008 at 10:41 — No Comments

UK - Evan Davies, the UK's most audible gay man?

Evan Davies, who's been well-known to viewers of BBC News for some years as an economics correspondent, is heard more than seen these days as presenter of the flagship breakfast show on Radio 4. However, much press interest around him seems to centre on whether or not he's got a Prince Albert, which he was asked directly about in an interview at the… Continue

Added by Tim on July 8, 2008 at 12:30 — No Comments

Mr Gay Europe 2008 is from Spain

Lifeguard and swimming teacher Antonio "Tony" Almijes from Madrid is the new Mr Gay Europe, elected at a gala in Budapest during the Gay Pride weekend.

He told reporters that “Winning Mr. Gay Europe is a bit overwhelming, but I am excited and I look forward to do my best in supporting not only my home community, but hopefully I can help other young guys in Europe and making them feel that it is okay to come out of the closet and be… Continue

Added by Tim on July 6, 2008 at 19:00 — No Comments

And while we're talking about Gay Pride....

A video produced for the Fort Lauderdale-based GLBT campaign group, Fight OUT Loud.

As their web site points out, the mission of Fight OUT Loud is to provide immediate resources, support, education, and assistance for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals who are faced with discrimination and hate. We do this by empowering everyday people to stand up forthemselves in the fight for their… Continue

Added by Tim on July 6, 2008 at 12:50 — No Comments

UK: Military uniforms on show in London's Gay Pride March

A number of reports of the 2008 Gay Pride March through London comment on how this was the first time members of the Armed Forces had been allowed to take part in uniform. This from The Times.

The British Army this year joined the Royal Navy and Air Force in relaxing the rules on uniformed soldiers taking part. The move marks the culmination of eight years of… Continue

Added by Tim on July 6, 2008 at 10:30 — No Comments

Spain: Over a million celebrate Gay Pride in Madrid

Spain's Equality Minister, Bibiana Aído, was at the front of this weekend's Gay Pride march in the Spanish capital, and officials say that an estimated 1.1 million people took part in the demonstration.

All major parliamentary parties were represented other than the conservative Partido Popular.

More en español en… Continue

Added by Tim on July 6, 2008 at 0:00 — No Comments

US - Jesse Helms dies, but sadly his values linger on

The death at 86 of Jesse Helms may be seen as some as the end of a political era. However, unfortunately for those of us in the gay community, some of the values he supported are still very much cherished by groups like the American Family Association.

I'm not going to waste too much time on chronicling the life of Helms, but this from the International Herald… Continue

Added by Tim on July 5, 2008 at 18:30 — 1 Comment

Cassandro - Mexico's gay transvestite wrestler

Currently appearing in a wrestling spectacular in London, Cassandro says he's brought "glamour, make-up and bathing suits" to the sport in Mexico.

"Exotic wrestlers like me aren't just in it for the glamour. We also know how to wrestle. I may look fragile but I'm a devil in the ring." he says. "I'm the 2008 World Lightweight Champion, and if you get into the ring with me, I'll prove it to you."

Cassandro… Continue

Added by Tim on July 5, 2008 at 15:31 — No Comments

Spanish Idol contestant Manu has three balls

The contestants in Spain's answer to American Idol have got more balls than their US counterparts - and it's official.

The fact that Manu - the youngest finalist in this year's contest, at just 17 - has a very big bulge has not gone unnoticed by TV viewers.