It’s a gloomy, rainy Monday. Are you in any kind of mood for work? Hell no! So here’s a round-up of some of the headlines that caught our eye over the past day or so. Enjoy.

There has been a worrying lack of transparency regarding the SOPA Ireland issue in general. Wasn’t one of the huge problems of the last government the secrecy, the lobbying, the greasy palms, the quiet words with ministers?

For a growing number of people, “queer” is the way they express their identity. It’s an umbrella term which can be used to cover a whole host of sexualities and gender expressions.

This week, I lost quite a bit of faith in the LGBT student movement. What started off as a link left on a wall of a Facebook group, turned into a week-long debate that has left me somewhat disillusioned and if I’m honest, a little bit heartbroken. I don’t know if you have heard of the offensive train wreck of a television show called Work It currently being aired by ABC?

When you think of beauty contests a certain stereotype comes to mind. Ditsy, all American and of course straight. Not any more. Last October saw openly gay Jenelle Hutcherson reach the finals of the Miss Long Beach pageant and now she’s joined by Mollie Thomas as both lesbians try to win the Miss California crown.

This keeps happening. A bunch of overpaid jerks in suits decide that an ad is hilarious and release it, thinking they’re awesome. And then the world goes “uh, wut?” and the ad is pulled with apologies and a final phrase about the handful of people who didn’t find it offensive. The most recent ad was [...]

Here are some of the most popular non-Gaelick links from our Facebook page this year. Lovely!

These are the top 10 articles on Gaelick that you just could keep your peepers off this year. Is your favourite here, or have we left out something very important? Read! Share! Comment!

Here we are on the crux of 2012, a whole year is over since you made all of those New Year’s resolutions and what do you have to show for it?

How are things going for you, then? Have the meat sweats started? Have you had more turkey today than you’ve ever had in your entire life? Did Santa arrive at your house? How many times have you watched The Wizard of Oz? Have you cried into your Christmas pudding over the departure of Anne Doyle? Are you at risk of mental breakdown if you hear one more Christmas song? Which relation is passed out under the tree? Share all!

How are the festive preparations going for you? Have you all the presents bought? The food ready to go? The massive arguments primed and ready? The alka seltzer on standby? Are your nerves just about to snap? Stacks of mince pies waiting to be gobbled? And most importantly, what are you hoping for this Christmas? Gather ‘round, get it off your chest and tell all in the comments!

Ah, the winter solstice. It could be the ultimate hipster holiday: “Yeah, well I celebrated Christmas before Jesus was even born, y’know roysh?”

Morning Gaelickers! 4 days to go and most of the shopping done! The poor missus has come down a bad head cold though and being a tad difficult patient. Sometimes people don’t understand you have their best interests at heart! Right, news I hear you cry!

Our lucky winner of the Secrets Ireland competition has won for herself a fabulous hamper of goodies, which has been put together exclusively for Gaelick and is worth over €80!

I’m becoming more stereo-typically lesbian as I get older. I’ve recently started to bake, something I loved to do as a kid, but haven’t done in yonks. I even tried baking bread. Let’s not dwell on the results.

Did you enjoy our 12 Toys of Christmas series? Did you see things you liked? Would you like a free something to jingle your bells and tousle your tinsel? Well, don ye now your gay apparrel! Because thanks to Secrets Ireland we have an amazing hamper to give away to one lucky reader!

(Probably NSFW!) The fabulous Secrets Ireland has teamed up with the team here at Gaelick Towers, to bring you: The 12 Toys of Christmas! Each day, we will bring you a festive fave from the Secrets Ireland shelves, to make you ooh! and ahh!