Thursday’s 5 Must Read LGBT Stories From Around The Internet is a post from: Queeried

Too busy to spend time looking round all the LGBT sites to find out what you should be keeping up to date with? Fear not Queeried are here to do it for you with our Thursday round up of the five GLBT stories you need to be reading.

1. Fidel Castro Says He’s To Blame For Cuban Homophobia

The BBC News site reports on Fidel Castro’s announcement that he is to blame for the homophobia that exists in Cuba. Saying he was distracted from the issue because of other issues like armed attacks on the country, Castro, who is said to be near death, admitted he’s not given the issue the attention it had deserved, something his gay rights advocate daughter Mariela Castro has been making up for in recent years.

2. Republicans Urge Arnold Schwarzenegger To Defend California’s Gay Marriage Ban

On Top magazine reports on how twenty seven members of the Assembly’s Republican caucus have written to Governor Schwarzenegger asking him to appeal a ruling that saw gay marriage ruled as unconstitutional.

3. Californian Republican Senate Candidate Carly Fiorina Speaks Out Against Gay Marriage And Proposition 8 Ruling

The Washington Blade reports on Carly Fiorina, the Californian Republican candidate for the US Senate has stated that she is not only against gay marriage (but for civil unions) but also against the ruling of Prop 8 as unconstitutional. She is however for the repeal of DADT which is something!

4. Is Hollywood’s Portrayal Of The Gay Community Only Acting To Reinforce Stereotypes?

Flyer News, the Dayton’s student newspaper raises an important question about whether the way Hollywood portrays the gay community is doing damage by reinforcing the stereotypes that are negatively impact on the way that we are seen

5. Chris Matthews Explores the Changing Shifts And Divisions In The GOP Over Gay Marriage

Mediaite have attempted to round up Chris Matthew’s exploration of the growing support and division in the Republican Party over gay marriage last night on MSNBC’s Hardball. Including Joe Solomonese of the Human Rights Campaign and R Clarke Cooper of the Log Cabin Republicans in the discussion, the article looks at Solomonese’s belief it has split the party in three and Matthew’s arguments against it.

Photo by Alex Barth

Aussiebum Give You A Sneak Peek Of The New Rugby’s Finest Calendar (Also Known As Near Naked Oiled Up Men Video) is a post from: Queeried

Aussiebum, the designer underwear label, headed over to the Motherland (also known as the UK) earlier this month to give some of Rugby’s finest (looking) men some rather stylish undies to wear for the new “Rugby’s Finest 2010 Calendar” (yes that is a clue that they’re not wearing too much in said calendar).

Having done that they then needed to find something else to do, and we think they came with a pretty darn good idea – they decided to video said half naked men as they got oiled up and undressed for their photos. Then they had an even better idea. They put it up on the internet.

Enjoy..

David Cameron Says William Hague Has His Full Support For Not Being Gay is a post from: Queeried

Following the resignation of Chris Myers, the special advisor to the British foreign secretary William Hague after growing speculation that he and Hague were having an affair David Cameron has announced that  he supports both Hague and the statement he made yesterday.

Whilst Cameron may be fully supportive of Hague and his “I am most definitely not gay” statement (personally we think Cameron should have gone a little further and made it cleat he  would support Hague gay or not), there have been many who have questioned it with Max Clifford telling BBC Radio 4′s Today programme that all that it had “taken a small problem and turned it into a huge one” whilst the associate editor of the Daily Mirror, Kevin Maguire, said “it has backfired on him…. “f he had just left it it would have just been on the internet swirling around. He has given this rocket fuel.”

Hague’s statement denied that he was either in a relationship with Myers or gay, but did not dispute the fact they shared a room, admitting they had actually shared a twin room during the election campaign.

Via Pink News / Photo credit: Isafmedia

Recreate Those Classic Star Wars Moments (Badly) With Your Very Own Star Wars Jedi Bathrobe is a post from: Queeried

Are you the kind of person who just can’t help but pretend the long cardboard tube inside rolls of wrapping paper is a light saber and go round waving it about with “swooshing” sound effects? Well you’re in good company because we do too, and we’re all going to look a whole lot more convincing doing it from now on thanks to the release of the Star Wars Jedi Bath Robe.

Looking pretty much identical to the actual standard Jedi uniform standard issue (which has us wondering which came first the Jedi uniform or the bath robe), this bath robe not only features the Jedi logo on the left chest area, but also comes with a big old oversized hood that will conceal your “I’ve just woken up and look dreadful” face from view AND wildly oversized sleeves that are perfect for storing midnight snacks up when you sneak into the kitchen late at night.

Impossible to wear without suddenly feeling the need to recreate some Star Wars moment that seems to be nothing short of amazing in your head but looks quite the opposite when you upload it onto Youtube, you can  buy yourStar Wars Jedi Robefrom £49.99 at Firebox.

Wednesday’s 5 Must Read LGBT Stories From Around The Internet is a post from: Queeried

Too busy to spend time looking round all the LGBT sites to find out what you should be keeping up to date with? Fear not Queeried are here to do it for you with our Wednesday round up of the five GLBT stories you need to be reading.

1. Texan Gay Couples Not Allowed To Get Divorced

AOL News reports on a court decision in Texas that has ruled that gay couples who have got married in other states will not be able to get divorced in the state. An overruling of a previous decision back in October that saw two men granted a divorce, the appeals court have decided that the Texas gay marriage ban is constitutional and so marriage, and in turn divorce, can be limited to just the heteros.

2. Council Plans To Ban Anti-Gay Protesters From Next Year’s Manchester Gay Pride

The Pink News reports on how Manchester City Council are entering into discussions with police to see if anti-hate laws can be used to ban homophobic protesters from being able to disrupt next year’s pride.

3. Conservative Gay Group Start Campaign Against Gay Blood Donor Ban

The Pink Paper reports on how LGBTory, the gay group affiliated to the Conservative Party in the UK has launched a campaign calling for the ban on gay men giving blood to be dropped and highlighting the increasing evidence of why it is no longer needed.

4. Spain Breaks Up Male Prostitute Human Trafficking Ring

The Advocate discusses a human trafficking gang in Spain which police have broken up. Bringing men into the country, filling them with drugs then forcing them to have sex with other men, the men who were mostly from Brazil had thought they’d be getting much higher class jobs like being go-go dancers and models.

5. Lady Gaga Wants To Get Ordained And Marry All Of Her Gay Friends

According to MTV UK, Lady Gaga has announced that she wants to get ordained so that she will be able to marry all of her gay friends. Here’s hoping she doesn’t sing “Bad Romance” whilst doing it.

Photo by Alex Barth

William Hague: I’m Not Gay And Definitely Not Having An Affair With My Special Advisor is a post from: Queeried

The Conservative foreign secretary William Hague has gone on record as saying that he is neither gay or having an affair with new special advisor Chris Myers.

Deciding to speak out following internet rumours, that included political blogger “Guido Fawkes” who claimed the two had shared a bedroom during the election campaign, Hague said that the suggestion of any relationship beyond the “purely professional one” that he has with Myers are “inaccurate and unfounded“. He didn’t however deny sharing a bedroom with him.

Via Pink News

Shakira Unveils New Single Loca (Also Known As A Not Very Good Waka Waka) is a post from: Queeried

Now we don’t know about you but there was one very big reason we wanted the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be over as quickly as possibly and it was called “Waka Waka“.  A song that seemed pretty cool to start with but soon had us begging Shakira to hurry up and release something else so we didn’t have to listen to it anymore.

And now after a very long time to arrive our dreams have come true with “Loca”, the first release off Shakira’s new “try not to flop this time bilingual album “Sale El Sol”, and well we’re not saying we don’t like it, we’re just saying we’d like “Waka Waka” back please as opposed to this soundalikey..

Stonewall Trains New Generation Of Gay Rights Campaigners To Fight For Our Rights is a post from: Queeried

Following a campaign training weekend held over the Bank Holiday weekend the LGBT world now has 25 young, enthusiastic equality campaigners ready to do battle against homophobia and other injustices that the LGBT community still suffer in the UK.

Held at Woodrow High House in Amersham, the 25 young people, who were aged between 16-21 and from across the country, were supported by staff and volunteeers from Stonewall who helped them develop their own campaigns against homophobia that could then be used in their own community, one by 19 year-old Jennifer Sernat from London being simple, but having the power to be truly effective by asking students to sign a pledge committing to stop using the phrase ‘That’s so gay’ as a derogatory term.

Speaking about the event, which is the third to have been held,  Stonewall Youth Coordinator Laurie Oliva said: ‘

“This was our best youth campaigning weekend yet. It never fails to amaze me how creative and impressive young people are with their innovative ideas to tackle homophobia back in their local communities. Stonewall is proud to harness their energy into positive action plans which will help us campaign for lesbian, gay and bisexual equality – at home, at school and at work in every local community in Britain.”

Lady Gaga Reveals Struggles of Being Rich And Famous In New Track “Living On The Radio” is a post from: Queeried

Now you might not be aware of this but being a musician loved across the globe it isn’t easy. In fact all that champagne, caviar and sold out tours that keep your bank balance topped up, well the’re  pretty darn hard things to deal with. Well according to Lady Gaga‘s new song they are (personally we think they sound rather pleasant..)

Debuted at her recent concert in Minnesota , the song “Living On The Radio” sounds like it’s going to be quite a chilled out affair featuring nothing more than Gaga and a piano. Cue it turning into a synth filled, poppity pop dance track by the time it’s released…. then re-released…. then re-released.

Trilogy Unveil New Kensington Womens Designer Jeans Collection is a post from: Queeried

If there’s one thing you lovely Queeried readers appear to love just as much as your LGBT news it’s your designer fashion, so when Trilogy Stores got in touch to let us know about their brand new Kensington Collection that has seen them collaborate with not one, but five of the leading womens designer jeans brands we thought you might just be a tiny bit interested.

Already featured in Grazia, home to the gorgeously talented Melanie Rickey, this collection features Paige jeans, Goldsign jeans, J Brand jeans, Hudson jeans and Citizen of Humanity jeans with the J Brand taking it’s inspiration straight from the Prada catwalks, something which has seen not only the Trilogy staff fall in love with them but the celebs too with the  J Brand Gigi Crop Flare seemingly being the only thing to be wearing if you’re a film star, musician or just generally someone that the paparazzi will fall over themselves to take a photo of.

Don’t worry though if your legs aren’t too happy being shown off in a pair of cropped trousers because this isn’t one of those one style only collections. Oh no Trilogy have done us designer jean wearers proud by offering an impressive mix not only of styles which include Paige leggings, Hudson bootcut jeans and Citizen of Humanity boyfriend jeans, but also colours with Light Blues, Dark Blues, Vietnam Greens and even some Black on offer.

You can check out the new Kensington womens designer fashion range over at the online Trilogy store.