Classy birds in Sheffield

Just seen on facebook, the page for Dempsey's gay bar in Sheffield - one of the members Linzi (that's your actual french spelling that is) has written on the wall

"had a really good night friday 6th june 08 at dempseys sorry to who ever had to clean my sick up......."

have a look!





nice xx

Ooh nasty homophobes!!

I often write in this blog about homophobia and gay rights, I admit to sometimes living in a big gay bubble, my work in volves tackling gay issues and I work in an office where the majority of staff are gay. I would say most of my friends are gay and I spend more time in gay bars and clubs than straight ones. So it always comes as a shock when homophobia knocks on my big gay door.

Last night I had been drinking with my friend Michael, we had a lovely evening and we parted ways on Old Compton Street, I walked along Charing Cross Road to get my bus but there were so many people waiting I decided to wander along to Tottenham Court Road to hop on a different bus. Just as I was walking up to the bus stop, 2 guys walked towards me and one shouted right in my face "Batty Boy!!!" whilst the other one nudged me hard with his shoulder, thankfully they just carried on walking - anything could have happened and even though it was a busy street, this is the city where things can go ignored. I would like to thank the young woman who asked if I was ok and sat with me for a while until my bus came. It really knocked me for six that someone would take time out of their lives to make me feel bad about who I am. I'm fine now but it just upset me last night.

Moving on! Being a big gay means one thing really - I like men rather a lot and think they are quite marvellous. Most of my fantasy men are quite expected, the beckhams and pitts of this world but occassionally I do go for the more random men, one of these is Alexander Armstrong who is starring in the new BBC drama "Mutual Friends" - I am not sure what it is about him but he makes legs shake!




I am loving the soap opera that is Lindsay Lohans's family!! Basically for those of you that don't check 50 celebrity gossip sites a day. The actress Lindsay Lohan is currently allegedly dating the DJ Samantha Ronson, they are all over the press looking besotted with each other and quite adorable and Ronson seems to be having a good effect in the fact that Lohan has not been arrested lately. Her father however is not very keen on the whole idea of the Lohan/Ronson relationship and has decided that rather than sitting down with his daughter and having a chat, he will communicate through the world's media - accusing Ronson of using Lohan. Lindsay has responded by calling her father a public embarassment and a bully. Now Ronson has got involved saying "I really don't want to say anything because I feel like he wins. He, being the man who is so desperate for attention that he goes to the media whenever possible. I feel no need to publicly defend my role in Lindsay's life. I'm just sorry that she likes me more than him." Ooh get her!



Well this weekend I am off to Surrey to see friends Sally and Darren tie the knot. It should be a good do but I hope I don't feel too fragile on sunday as I intend to get home, unplug the phone, get the papers and get some much needed rest, this week has been hectic and its time to lie down!

xx

Gay History

On several occasions I have talked on this blog about gay history and how important I think it is to recognise the contribution made by Lesbians, Gay Men and Bisexual people in the past. I was looking on the internet and found a site that has been started up as on online history museum for LGB people, I think it's essential that we find a way to document where we have been and where we are headed, I got in touch with the people behind this site to see if I could support them in anyway - I have been working on gay issues for 13 years now so am meeting one of the guys from the organisation next week.

On June 17th this year I blogged about a lesbian couple, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who had been together for over 50 years and had finally had their relationship legally recognised in a ceremony in California, Sadly earlier this week Del Martin passed away, Her memory will live on in the inspiring work she did - including setting up America's 1st lesbian organisation and campaigning tirelessly for equal rights in gay marriage.

This morning saw the release of some truly shocking pictures of Michael Jackson out in Las Vegas celebrating his 50th birthday, his appearance is a sharp contrast from the Jackson of Thriller and Bad. There has been quite a lot of debate surrounding the 50th birthdays of Michael Jackson and Madonna - many saying that although Madonna is amazing, Michael Jackson is a musical genius who will be remembered in many years to come - looking at this picture I wonder what he will be remembered for?




Tonight I am off to the Retro Bar to meet my friend Michael who I have not seen in an age! It is also my first trip to the Retro Bar in months! It is my favourite gay bar in London, plays great music, friendly staff - a good night is on the cards! The weekend is all about a wedding, yes Sally and Darren are tying the knot so I am off to somewhere quiet quaint sounding for celebrations galore, here's hoping the booze will be flowing - also looking forward to a fab sounding wedding meal, they have plumped for Fish and Chips! Hoorah!!

xx

It's a miracle I can walk at all!

Well I have been drinking like a coal miner with a pay cheque! Yes it all started on friday with the lovely Rachel's leaving drinks at the random bar that is Scooterworks on Lower Marsh, After a few Corona's there I headed up to The Marlborough Arms near Goodge Street for more drinks with Tony, Anna, Clare, Glenn, Jez and Helen - lovely to catch up with everyone, then it was over to the rather special White Swan (gentleman's wine bar) in Limehouse for their amateur strip night which is always a bit car crash but fun was had and that's all I am going to say about friday!

Saturday I felt rather special so had a relaxing morning watching all the dvd's my folks had sent me which included a few Madonna programme's from MTV/VH1 and highlights from the V festival which just reminded how fantastic last weekend was - part of one of the shows had an interview with John McClure who is the lead singer of Sheffield band "Reverend and the Makers" - He has a really strong Sheffield accent and I have to admit to watching this interview quite a few times, I can't put my finger on it but there is something rather appealing about him in a kind of mohawk/taxi driver/travisbickle kinda way - anyway he came across very well in the interview, guess you just had to be there - here he is anyway

After I had finished drooling I headed into town to meet Chris and James for more beers near Chancery Lane before heading into Soho, that was actually quite sedate and I was home by 9 ish! I think in many ways I was preparing my body for the battering it was going to get on sunday.

I woke on sunday and headed to Angel as I was craving a Pret A Manger latte and croissant, I picked up the papers on my way back and read 2 pretty positive reviews of the 1st night of Madonna's "Sticky and Sweet" tour - I am not actually going to write much about the show as I know my friend Dan reads this blog and I don't want to spoil his first ever Madonna live experience.

After ploughing through the Observer I got myself ready and headed to Shoreditch Park where the festival was coming to an end and the big screens were up showing live footage from the Olympic handover celebrations on the Mall - McFly covering ABBA - all different shades of wrong!

It was great to see everyone Pete, John, Kaz, T, Degsy, Clive, Adrian, Tom, Mal, Marek and Max, after far too many Magners and a very hilarious mis-hearing of "Chinese Judges" we though they said "Tranny Judges" - you can imagine! We headed into Hoxton Square and then onto that ever so special place "The Joiners Arms" where it got very messy - the music was great though and I needed that dance. I have no idea how I got home but I woke up yesterday feeling like death mixed with shit covered in piss - I was sweating and shaking and it was all a bit Trainspotting.

I did not even have time to feel sorry for myself I had to get my ass into town to meet the lovely Paul for a spot of lunch in Cafe Emm - I felt so bad that I just couldn't eat my lunch so we went down to the South Bank to check out Mediatheque at the BFI - basically there are a bank of screens in the BFI and you can view the BFI's archive of films, programmes and documentaries totally free of charge - we managed some Victoria Wood, Alan Bennett, an episode the gay current affairs show "Out on Tuesday" from 1989 and part of a Mike Leigh TV play called "Nuts in May" which I had never seen but featured a very young Alison Steadman - it was very dark but very funny I hope to go back soon and watch the end!

I left Paul and went home for food as my appetite made a much needed return before heading up to Hornsey for a music quiz at the 3 compasses pub. We did pretty well but there were a few too many 50's questions in there really.

So that's my weekend and now it's back to work - boo!!

Majorly quick blog today as the weekend is literally calling me repeatedly

Will miracles never cease? Now Mel C aka Dame Sporty of Spice is pregnant, now there were rumours for many years that Miss C preferred the company of the ladies but she has actually been with her man for 6 years, well congrats to her and also to gwen Stefani who has given birth to a kid that i presume is named after a character from science fiction? yes her 2nd son is called Zuma Nesta Rock, think he might be hating his mother when he is begging not to be stuffed in his locker at school.

Love the fact that one of my fave lesbian comedians, Zoe Lyons has been awarded the accolade of coming up with the funniest joke of the edinburgh festival! here it is

"I can't believe Amy Winehouse self-harms. She's so irritating she must be able to find someone to do it for her."

well done Zoe!!!

well that enough for now, the weekend is promising a whole host of fun with lots of lovely people so I am off to enjoy that - have a marvellous bank holiday and make the most of it, that's it now til....i can't bring myself to type it, that holiday where we are forced to "enjoy" going home to comedy specials and turkey dinner

Find a beer garden people and stay there!

xx

New? Kids? on the block

Seriously, "boy"bands really need to think to the future when coming up with a name. Take That nailed it, it works its catchy. Backstreet Boys just look wrong these days and now we have the return of the New Kids On The Block - I have to admit at the height of their fame I did tape 2 of their albums off my dear friend Jane and had a very major crush on Jordan Knight, he was rather adorable!





Anyway the boys (They are all in their late 30's) are back with a new single, album and tour. I don't think I will be going somehow but they are ALLEGEDLY about to be grabbing headlines for another reason. Jordan Knight's brother Jon who is also in the group is about to ALLEGEDLY come out as a homosexual. I did always wonder - he had that gay smile going on (I know what I mean) apparently he has a boyfriend as well, his name is Harley and get this, he is a personal trainer at a place called Barry's Bootcamp!! I thought that was a bar in Vauxhall but apparently not. I know it's sad that celebrities coming out still makes the news but to me it's a big deal, young gay's need more role models in the public eye so I say the more the merrier.



Speaking of raging homo's - Ms Ricky Martin has become a father!! I know what you are thinking - did he adopt or did he pop his latin lovestick in an actual woman! In fact a surrogate has given birth to twin boys. Ah gay parenting - it's the real thing! Whatever next - MIssy Elliott and Queen Latifah coming out?? some of us know it's true.....ALLEGEDLY

I have just upgraded my phone and it has fm stereo so I have become addicted to listening to Xfm at my desk and have just heard the new Oasis single and it sounds exactly like every other Oasis song but I am sure it will keep football shirt/fred perry shirt wearing straight boys happy, bouncing up and down on indie dancefloors intimidating the true indie kids whilst downing pints of lager, turning the glasses upside down and placing them on their heads - I don't really get what that means, is it to show that all the lager in their glass has gone because if it is someone needs to tell them that pint glasses are made of glass and you can kinda see when they are empty. Whilst I am on a Oasis fan rant, why do they dance like Liam Gallagher with the shits? God they really bug me, they have taklen all that was good and lovely about indie music and turned it into stinking crap, thankfully I think the tide is changing and indie clubs seem to be filling up with more alternative types - theway they should be, I am long overdue a night of indie dancing!!!

Now for the innapropriate moment - in February last year I put Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter) in my pippy's boudoir due to some rather fetching promotional pictures of him taken for his west end run in the play "Equus" well now the horny little bugger has done a photoshoot for Vogue with the amazing photographer Annie Leibovitz - is it wrong to get ever so slightly turned on by this picture? Harry Potter and a Horse - I swear I should be running back to my emotional stylist!!




Well it's the day before pay day - the most depressing day of the month if you ask me but I just keep focusing on the cash machine tomorrow and the fact that 3 weeks today I shall be seeing Madonna baby!!!

xxx

Oh Dido, Dido, Dido why do you haunt my life?

I was feeling rather ill yesterday after the madness of the V Festival, I was all bunged up and had a really sore throat so I left work early and popped to the shop to get lots of orange juice, honey, lemons and painkillers. I got home and mixed up the lemon juice and honey with boiling water whilst downing some orange juice and sank into my sofa to watch a few dvd's before having a much needed early night.

So there I was all snuggled up in my bed, dreaming random dreams when all of a sudden I was woken by a rather harsh bass and then it came into my ears like a wide dagger - the dull as dishwater vacuous vocals of Dido!! Here is the deal - my housemate occassionally gets a bit depressed and drunk and when that happens (usually during the week annoyingly) she pours even more gin into the glass and plays Dido's debut album pretty loud and sings along in a drunken stylee. I cringed at all the lyrics about how she had been scorned by a lover and wondered when my housemate would have had enough, it turns out that 3 full listens to the whole album did the trick - oh did I mention this started at 3am and finished at 4.30am! I would have yelled at her when I woke up this morning but I was actually quite well rested and my cold and sore throat had disappeared so life was good again. When I get hom I am going to drag a bread knife against said Dido cd to ensure I rest easy - if you also own this album I suggest doing the same as it is shit.

People really are quite nasty aren't they? I have to admit that occassionally I find it hard to say nice things about people but I work for a charity for heaven's sake, even god took a day off! However, the reaction to Jade Goody's cancer diagnoses has been atrocious - she may have made some pretty major mistakes in the past and rubbed people up the wrong way but c'mon people she has been diagnosed with cancer! I cannot imagine the crap she has been through but all she deserves now is people's support and to not be accused of this being a publicity stunt.




It's already midweek and so not long to go til 2 great events - pay day on friday!!! and a nice long bank holiday weekend!! The plans are starting to come together nicely. Got a leaving do and drinks to go to on Friday night which should be muchos funos. Saturday I need to do a spot of shopping and do domestic flat stuff, I have NO plans for saturday night as yet but I am sure that will change soon. Sunday is the Shoreditch Festival and there is a picnic happening in Haggerston Park which should be good if the weather is kind to us but if not there are lots of pubs round there to keep us dry and drunk. Monday I am meeting Valerie Cherish for lunch and drinks in Soho - yay!!

Come back tomorrow for some really innapropriate mumblings about Harry Potter

xx

after much thought and consideration I have come to the conclusion that Kerry Katona spending £15,000 on plastic surgery is the cosmetic equivalent of putting lipstick on a pitbull.

Ooh a weekend of celebrity celebrations almost passed me by but not quite. Two of my favourite female's had reason to party this weekend! Over in LA Ellen Degeneres and her girlfriend Portia De Rossi got married this weekend at their Beverly Hills mansion - ah gay love!! it really is the real thing.



Of course how can I forget to mention that our gracious leader, the one and only Madonna turned 50 at the weekend and had a bit of a do in a central london club and I have to say she looks fabulous!! Happy Birthday Madge!



A friend of mine is off to see the opening night of her "Sticky and Sweet" World Tour this weekend in Cardiff and apparently there are fans hanging outside the stadium everyday trying to listen to the rehearsals! She aint over yet people

Well geezers and gals - I am back from a rather fabulous weekend at the V Festival in Chelmsford - Thank god I was not at the Weston Park site, it sounded like a mudbath - as per the weather forecast was spot on, they said it was going to rain heavily all weekend and in fact it was blazing hot sun! what exactly is the point??

I was actually at the festival working for most of the time - handing out condoms to horny festival freaks and educating them all about the joys of sexual health but I did get the opportunity to see some great acts. Saturday I managed Alanis Morrisette who played a greatest hits set and reminded me how much I love her bitter, twisted, castration style warblings.




Managed to catch a bit of the Kooks who were very jolly and were even joined on stage by Ray Davies of The Kinks (my mother's heartthrob as a teenager). I then hotfooted it over to the 4Music stage for Duffy whose debut album has been on repeat in my ears for months now. She was amazing, pitch perfect and really brought the sunshine out.




After Duffy I worked a bit more before catching the ginger dreadlocked one that is Newton Faulkner - he has that great mix of happy songs and great onstage banter.




Saturday nights headliners on the main stage were the Stereophonics and Muse - I know it's not exactly cool to like the Stereophonics but they do great stadium music and lets face it the lead singer is very pleasing to the eye. As the night drew in and the moon came out, Muse hit the stage with a massive light show to go with their massive sound - absolutely blew me away and was the perfect end to my 1st day.




On Sunday I worked most of the morning before heading the the main stage to catch Girls Aloud who oozed attitude and played all their hits, I had a horrible feeling that the crowd were going to not warm to them but the indie boys and girls were singing along - possibly due to most of them being ratarsed by lunchtime.




They were followed by the Feeling who were ok but did one too many cover versions for my liking, I was very excited about the prospect of Lenny Kravitz having been a bit of a closet fan of his since his very first album was released nearly 10 years ago. I was very impressed - the guy is a true rock star through and through and held the crowd in the palm of his hands.



Now for the drumroll moment, yes after Lenny left the stage the crowd seemed to just get bigger and bigger, was crused against the barrier near the sound desk and people could barely move - why? A certain Ms Amy Winehouse was due on, there had been rumours that her performance the day before had been a disaster and after arriving late she had been booed off stage. I have to admit I thought she was better than expected, she looked very nervous to start off with and kept dashing to the back of the stage for a swig of brandy but all in all she was pretty good and she sang "Love is a Losing Game" which is my fave, she also burst out laughing during "Rehab" as someone in the crowd held up a banner saying "Punch me Amy" in reference to her twatting a fan at Glastonbury earlier this year.




After getting through the crowd I headed to the 4Music stage to see The View, The Zutons and headliners the Kaiser Chiefs who really were fantastic, the lead singer Ricky Wilson really got the crowd going and managed to end my time at the V Festival perfectly.

Only one complaint, After the bands finish they really is not much to do at all - the main arena closes and it's a case of drinking back at your tent, having a dance tent would be a great idea. I still managed to party hard and now am suffering with a cold and a very sore throat! Boo!!!

xx

1 day and counting til I leave the London for the sun soaked?? grass of Hyland's Park in Chelmsford for this year's V Festival - I have to say the weather forecast looks pretty grim but last night I went to the lovely Clare and Glenn's to borrow waterproof's and other outdoorsy things - not the kind of thing I ever think to have in my wardrobe, why bother going outdoors when the pubs are open? So thanks to Clare for kitting me out!

Well Peaches Geldof has got married in Las Vegas (how original!) - she has married a guy that she has been seeing for 2 weeks, they have known each other for 2 years but only been dating for the last fortnight, what a joke? how can you know that want to marry someone within 2 weeks?? The other thing is that just last month I was reading an interview with Ms Geldof where she was talking about how much she loved her boyfriend - not the one she has married!

There are times when I do consider watching TV again and the news this morning that Kylie and Dannii Minogue have recorded a version of Abba's "Winner Takes It All" for a new BBC2 sitcom has got me quite excited plus the fact that the comedy has been written by Jonathan Harvey who wrote the gay play/film "Beautiful Thing" and the series "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" - how gay is that gonna be???



I nearly dropped my croissant this morning! I was just checking the usual list of websites when I came across (literally) a picture of Jake Gyllenhaal on the set of his new movie "Prince of Persia:Sands of Time" - I think somebody might have been working out!



Rumour has it that Kerry "would anyone really care if I just died?" Katona is spending £15,000 on plastic surgery including a breast reduction and liposuction, wouldn't a hitman be cheaper?

Well this is the last blog of the week so have a fabulous weekend and I shall be back next tuesday with a full review of V!!

xxx

Hello my name is Pippy and I am an alcoholic.

Yes I have finally come to the realisation that drinking is my playground. This weekend is literally a collection of drunken antics and hangovers. Friday night it was my lovely friend Maria's leaving do so off we all went to a local Kings Cross bar to quench our thirst. Maria was staying at mine so I suggested having a FEW drinks and then heading home for a couple of bottles of wine, cut to us in Escape Bar in Soho dancing like twats til the early hours of the morning.

Eventually a few of us piled onto the night bus and headed home, waking up the next morning was a mission so we all hot footed it to my local greasy spoon for a much needed full english before heading to my local for hair of the dog. Is'nt it genius that just by putting a little topping of lemonade on a pint of Stella it tastes all refreshing and almost non alcoholic? After a couple of pints Maria and I headed over to our friend Michael's house for his annual Barbecue, thankfully he has a well covered garden so the rain didn't put us off. He kept dishing out the glasses of punch which genuinely tasted like Ribena but was packed to the brim with vodka - I didn't notice how drunk I was til the journey home, you know when you are so drunk you think you are walking in a straight line but end up crossing the road accidentally - well that was me, I looked like a street drinker!!

I woke up on sunday fully clothed with my phone in my hand and after checking my sent messages, 1 totally stupid message but the rest were fine. I spent most of the day recovering with a heavy helping of old episodes of "Friends" but there was little time for mooching around as Oliver was on his way to mine to get ready for a big madonna party near Leicester Square. Yes it was a party to celebrate our gracious leaders upcoming 50th birthday - did I take it easy and stick to soda water and lime, did I bogroll!! wine, wine and more wine! The party was good with some ok performances and I now feel that I can head to the V festival having celebrated Madge's birthday in style.

Not been a very good weekend if you are an american black male celebrity! Comedian Bernie Mac died this weekend aged just 50 after complications with pneumonia and then yesterday soul legend Isaac Hayes passed away.

Well this week is jam packed with plans and then friday morning I am heading off to the V festival, pray for good weather!!!

xx

why doesn't this happen when i arrive anywhere!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eFGRopX4Tk

Well last night I finished work and headed down to the Old Vic Theatre to see the production of "Pygmalion" starring Tim Piggott Smith and Michelle Dockery. The story is familiar to everyone as it led to the film "My Fair Lady". I was slightly distracted by the presence of film director Mike Leigh sat on the row behind us but I managed to contain myself and actually really enjoyed the play, the acting was superb although Tim Piggott Smith overacted ever so slightly and turned his character almost too childlike but Michelle Dockery as Eliza Doolittle shone through, stealing every scene sometimes without saying a word. Sadly the play ends its run on saturday but I am glad I managed to catch it and as the tickets were free I can never complain.




I am so ready for this weekend, although it looks like it is going to piss down tomorrow and I am supposed to be going to a barbecue!! boo!! I may hide in my house and watch the last few episodes of my Law and Order:Special Victims Unit box set, it really is my guilty pleasure! The 5th series just gets better and better, several of the episodes feature special guest star Marlo Thomas, she was in the massive 60's show "That Girl" and more recently played Rachel's mother in "Friends" - in Law and Order she plays a fierce ex judge turned ball breaking defense attorney. Yesterday they were filming a new episode of the show in New York and these pictures show how my angel Christopher Meloni stays cool on set, the pics also feature Luke Perry of Beverly Hills 90210 fame.





And now for no reason other than it's friday and in the good old days of the blog this would have been boudoir day, here is a rather lovely picture of Justin Timberlake




whoa mama!

I am not sure what this weekend has in store for me but hope yours is fun and bouncy

xx

Well Hello!!

I am feeling rather fab today! It's amazing what a good nights sleep can do for you. I am also off to the theatre tonight! Yes my darling friend Maria has snagged 2 free tickets for "Pygmalion" at the Old Vic - Am not sure what to expect, the reviews have been good and I know the story pretty well but what the heck, you don't get many free nights out in London so I am ready for this.

In hilarious showbiz news - that bowl full of crazy also known as Joss Stone has been causing a bit of a kerfuffle whilst visiting her family down south. She was back home for the baptism of one of her relatives, the family were pissed off due to her arriving half an hour late and this all resulted in a massive argument which ended with the demure Miss Stone head butting her brother...in church!! it's like an episode of "Shameless". Ah well at least she didn't damage anything that she regularly uses.




In hateful showbiz news, that stupid bint Fearne Cotton (who is frankly so perky I would gladly drive a nail through her head) is dating Steve Jones!! Now I know he is a bit too perfect and clean cut but he cuts a dashing figure! What is he doing with that runt?? I can never forgive her for saying "Go on the Madge!" after Madonna's Live 8 performance, there was really no need! Hopefully, like most celebrity relationships it will all be over before I have finished typing the next word.




In stupid showbiz news, Leona Lewis has been meeting with Topshop owner Philip Green to talk about launching her own fashion range. It's like, HELLO, what?? I am not in any way slagging Ms Lewis off, she has done amazingly well and there is no doubting her amazing voice and talent but what the fuck does she know about designing clothes? Has anyone seen her in anything but big flowing dresses during her big ballad performances? There are probably thousands of young people in this country who have spent years and cash going to fashion and arts colleges to get that first step on the fashion ladder with no doubt creative and groundbreaking ideas, Can the industry stop trying to grab a quick buck by getting the likes of Lily Allen and Leona to "design" clothes. I mean for fuck's sake a couple of years ago Leona was unemployed and lined up for a job at Gap, this does not bode well.



In America a guy has written a show about gay hate preacher Fred Phelps and his band of religious loony tunes! "The Pastor Phelps Project" is described as homophobia versus burlesque in a musical cabaret showdown. The writer, Alistair Newton has even written an open invitation to Phelps to attend the opening of the show. It's all very sarcastic, I think my favourite part of the letter goes

"You are so utterly loathsome, your ideas so mind-bendingly facile and your tactics so crassly ludicrous that you provide the perfect mirror to reflect the awesome stupidity of religious homophobia."

Obviously Phelps is not happy about this but then how can any man be happy whose new campaign is "Thank God for Improvised Explosive Devices," - I wish I was joking, Anyway - this is how Phelps responded

"The Pastor Phelps Project is a tacky bit of filthy sodomite propaganda, with no literary merit and zero redeeming social value, masquerading as legitimate theatre.

"It is of the fags, by the fags, and for the fags - designed only to mock the word of God and the servants of God. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision." Psalms 2:4.

"God Hates Canada - Land of the Sodomites"

Canada here I come! Nothing like a bit of sodomy to go with my toast of a morning.



xx

It's always worrying when you don't hear from someone for a while, I myself am pretty good at keeping in touch but occassionally it will take me a while to get back to people, I know this can be infuriating but sometimes I just bimble along and do my own thing. I only leave it a short time and hopefully all is forgiven and merry times always follow.

It is very worrying when someone just goes missing, quite literally and does not make contact for a long time. When I lived in Sheffield I had a passing accquaintance with a guy called Alex, He went to Sheffield University and used to date my friend Craig. He then moved to London and I bumped into him a couple of times in the Trash Palace bar. Alex went missing on the 20th June 2008 and no one has heard from him since, a page has been set up on facebook in the hope that he or someone who has seen or heard from him will get in touch. Please visit the page and if you recognise Alex from any of the pictures please get in touch with someone on the page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Please-Help-Us-Find-Alex/22330794316?ref=mf

xx

eurgh where did the good weather go?? this rain is really bringing me down

well the weekend has been and gone, the highlight being Brighton Pride - I woke up on saturday morning to hear rain pouring outside my window but due to not drinking too much the night before I actually woke up in high spirits!! I was not going to let that shitty weather stop my feelings of pride.

I met up with Pete, Kaz and Tolu and got on what I thought was the gayest train in town, The weather was miserable on the way there but the large cans of Stella seemed to make things that little bit better. Once we got to Brighton, a quick trip to Somerfield was needed, there was not much alcohol left but we got all we could carry and made our way to Preston Park, Just as we were walking through the gates - the sun appeared from nowhere. This made me smile a huge amount, we found a good spot and parked ourselves - i was drinking as quickly as possible due to the fact that most people in the park looked like they had been drinking meths since birth.

Trying to meet up with people was a joke, too many people, too many mobile networks and no signal so I made my way to the Bear tent ( not teddy bears but larger than life hairy gay blokes) - I am full aware that I don't fit that type but they were playing great music and there was room to move. I stayed there for the duration before ending up back at someone's flat at the park entrance where an impromptu party was happening and then we made our way back to the station to deal with the nightmare journey home, the queue seemed to last forever and we were drinking a very strong bottle of vodka and coke, eventually we got on the train and parked ourselves and proceeded to be as offensive and politically incorrect as possible mainly towards the long faced woman who didn't look dissimilar to shergar the champion horse.

After finally getting home I was shattered and collapsed in a big mess on my bed and stayed there nearly all of sunday.

I spend a great deal of my time at work training people to challenge homohobia and make their lives and spaces more inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. I sometimes get asked whether this work is really necessary....




On Friday 25th July in Huyton, Merseyside 18 year old Michael Causer was attacked by 3 youths in broad daylight, he was taken to hospital with serious head injuries, this attack was rooted in homophobia. On Sunday 3rd August Michael died. So to all those people who think that being gay is fine and that the world is one great accepting place, imagine the hatred that must have been running through these youth's brain's, solely based on homophobia.

Now onto celebrity hell, Mitch Winehouse gets more and more of a media whore everyday - now he has his own frikkin radio show, yes taxi driver mitch is hosting Danny Baker's london radio show whilst he is away. What next? Mitch Winehouse - come dine with me, mitch winehouse - hosting the brits, mitch winehouse - how to look good naked (dry wretch).

Well I have finished the book "Life with my sister Madonna" By Christopher Ciccone and would like to say I am shocked but it does not really come as a surprise that Madonna uses people and then drops them when she is done with them, that she only really likes to be around people that agree with her and if you go against her she will slightly unleash hell. What does come as a surprise is her lack of commitment to her family, her measley payments to her poverty stricken grandmother and the rather childish battles over money with her brother who seems to have repeatedly gone beyond the call of duty for her. I guess it does make me look at her in a different light (fitting). Is this a truthful account of what has really happened? We have only heard one side of the story, I doubt we will ever hear the other, Madonna would not lower herself to speak on such matters - it's a shame she won't - if she did the light would shine brighter.

I am amazed at the transformation of child star Neil Patrick Harris, I used to get nicknamed his character name of Doogie Howser at school because I looked like him, since then he has gone onto further success and has come out of the closet. I just wish I looked as good as he does now!!





xx

So the weekend is finally here, after a rather gruelling week. Work is pretty busy at the moment as I am putting the finishing touches to a project that has been on the go for well over a year. It is being launched in early october so more details will follow but I think it might be a tad controversial.

Well I have started reading the book that Madonna's brother has written about her, I have to say she aint coming off as a saint. I have only got as far as the dreaded "Shanghai Surprise" film shoot (a film that I still can't bring myself to watch), basically we all knew that Madonna was a power hungry, fame seeking diva but this book really puts it all into a new context and I am feeling myself feeling more sympathy towards her brother so apologies for calling him a big fatty boom boom before. I shall hopefully finish it over the weekend so a full write up will be here next week.

Brighton Pride is upon us tomorrow and I am kinda looking forward to it now. I have basically decided that if it's raining when I open my curtains tomorrow I aint going! Slipping around a wet muddy park with the gays is bizarrely not my idea of fun. So hopefully the sun will be out and I shall experience the joys of drinking warm cans of beer from the dodgy off licence, having no mobile phone reception, bumping into people that ya kinda hoped not to run into etc. It's a day packed full of fun for all the family.

Tonight I am opting for a pretty quiet one, the 5th series of Law and Order:Special Victims Unit arrived on my doorstep this week and I crammed a few episodes in last night and it's the best series yet. A particular highlight last night was an episode focusing on the ex gay movement in America. This is a religious movement that "rescues" gays from their hedonistic lifestyle and pop them back on the straight and narrow. This particular episode featured the poster boy for the ex gay movement found murdered, I was intrigued how the cast and writers might handle this issue but it was fantastic - my fave bit featured my heartthrob Detective Elliot Stabler (played by Christopher Meloni) threatening to rip out the throat of a homophobic preacher - how hot is that??




Love, Love, Love this story from this week's popbitch mailout

"Back in the 80s it was quite normal for gay singers

to hang around the London Apprentice on Old Street,

and they rarely got any bother from the other gayers

in the bar. On one occasion I was cruising round

the sleazy part of the bar when I came upon a

bare-chested Marc Almond, looking very sexy. I

followed him to a dark corner. I noticed that he had

a yellow hanky hanging out of his right hand jeans

pocket, so I took it that he was into watersports.

"Marc turned round to face me. I took out my dick and

started to piss on him. Somewhat outraged, he asked

what the fuck I thought I was doing. I told him I

thought he was into watersports because of the yellow

hanky in his right pocket. 'It's a t-shirt,' he

answered.



"Oops, sorry Marc."

Classic!

Have a great weekend!!!

xxx