gaelick

The cost of crap television

GuestPoster — Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:21 +0000

Rachel socks it to RTE

In today’s society regressive taxation is all the rage. The Government are coming up with regressive tax measures like they’re being paid bonuses for each one. Hell they probably are! The worst kind of regressive tax for me is the television license. It’s an Orwellian measure that is not just an aggressive invasion of the freedom of the people, but it’s an active participant in broadening the gap between rich and poor. But that’s what all regressive taxes do you may say. You are wise noble reader, very wise.

You see, noble reader, RTE is a commercial AS WELL as a state funding television channel: which does not mean that RTE combines its funding to bring you relevant, informative and interesting television. It means that RTE uses that cash to pay people like Ryan Tubridy an offensive amount of money. The whole concept of being forced to pay for entertainment you don’t necessarily want is so backwards even Rónán Mullen would have a hard-time championing the cause. Not only do we have to pay for the bastarding television license, but we also have to see Brendan O’Connor’s smug face on a Mace ad every time we want to watch Republic of Telly.

Even he's not watching the telly

Buck the system

I’ve been able to negate my anger over the television license over the years by simply not paying it. Sure it’s been a hassle. But the little glow of satisfaction I feel in the pit of my stomach as another year passes made me feel like I was sticking it to the overweight balding man with an over-engorged bank account. Then I heard about the Universal Broadcasting Charge.

The UBC is a new initiative by the government in which they will levy a fee on any home, regardless of whether or not they have a TV. The Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte, defended the new levy stating:

A huge number of the population now get their news maybe not from sitting down in front of the 9 o’clock news but accessing arrangements that the public service broadcaster has put in place

Rabbitte seems unaware of the fact that RTE did not invent the internet. Minister Rabitte said that the new levy might, but most definitely will not, be cheaper than the current television license. So I set about reading RTE’s Statement of Strategy 2010-2014 to see what exactly it is that I will be paying for.

Word

RTE state that their aims are to ‘broadcast a wide range of programming, including programmes that are entertaining, informative, educational and inclusive’. Here is what I know about RTE: it does not represent me as an LGBT woman. It doesn’t represent my LGBT peers. The only visibility to be seen for the Irish LGBT community in RTE’s original programming is from Fair City, which has a one or two gay characters spotted about. It seems to me that Fair City appeals to a very niche market; one that I never want to meet. The only other home-grown drama to deal with a gay relationship came in the form of Pavel and Geoff on Raw. A show RTE promptly cancelled in order to feed its resources into Love/Hate.

Foreign imports

Taking the time to look at RTE One’s younger, hotter sister, RTE Two, you’ll see that Grey’s Anatomy, Happy Endings and Revenge are the only shows with LGBT characters airing on the channel this week and all are American imports that I could watch on any other channel that I pay cable for. In terms of transgender visibility, there is none. RTE could easily add Hollyoaks to the bloated list of awful imported soap operas it airs almost hourly and Hit and Miss would fit in well with the late night drama slot on RTE One. But RTE won’t do that, because inclusive does not mean to RTE what it means to LGBT people; people who have grown up in a straight world watching straight-orientated TV. People who only see themselves represented briefly as either the desexualised, crazy or soon to be dead character whose only purpose is to propel the storyline of the straight antagonist.

Idiot! You're paying my wages

Looking at RTE’s new set of documentaries it’s clear that inclusive to RTE means trashy reality shows that make money without costing money. Set to air in 2013 are various documentaries that appeal to certain cultural demographics; teen mothers, displaced Vikings and amateur dramatists. That’s right kids, RTE are tackling the hard-hitting issues in shows entitled Teen Mums, The Only Viking in the Village and Simply Am-Dram.

Out-dated

Put very simple: RTE says it is a channel for the people, but RTE either does not know who the people are or it does not care. RTE is operating on an outdated model: we are no longer a one set household, with a one channel aerial, with one choice.

Television channels today are competing with one another. In a social media savvy world the viewers have a greater say in what we want to watch and TV execs have to listen because it’s their job to make the people happy. Happy viewers tune in, they buy Netflix accounts and they sell ad space. In a world where a TV license is universal, the consumer is unimportant, a faceless entity. I am a faceless entity and RTE doesn’t have to do a damn thing about it.

Faking it

GuestPoster — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:01 +0000

Kris wants your input, fnarr

Porn.

Well, Lesbian Porn to be exact.

There, I said it – some vague semblance of my Catholic upbringing made writing that slightly more difficult than expected, but hey, I did it!

Whatever your opinion of porn, whether you love it, hate it or are indifferent to it, porn of all varieties is out there, mainly online and due to its ease of access and free availability, is being viewed by hundreds of thousands of people across the globe daily. However, let’s go back to lesbian porn and, specifically, the images that form in your mind at the mention of this form of porn.

Fully clothed and 100% sexier

Boom chicka

If the scene that has appeared in your mind consists of two hotties, savouring each others bodies in an authentic manner, then you obviously haven’t watched ‘lesbian’ porn – or perhaps you have been one of those lucky enough to stumble across an authentic looking site (feel free to post hyperlink in the comments section!)

You may ask, what forms in my mind when I think of ‘lesbian’ porn?

Well, usually something revolving around two peroxide blonde silicon-breasted women (note my reluctance to even call these women lesbians – they likely are not), each wearing white high-heeled shoes, kneeling on a couch suggestively, with an array of pink and purple sex toys laid out on a coffee table on front of them, suggesting an Anne Summers themed party.

And in and out.....when does it get sexy?

Now in all fairness, how many of those reading this have EVER had a sexual encounter with another woman that even vaguely resembled this picture?

Buffalo attack

The scenario I am painting stems from a ‘lesbian’ Porn video that I partially watched recently, however the scene depicted does not vary greatly from others that I have witnessed. Does it do anything for me? No. Does it sometimes piss me off? Yes. Do I find their sex noises, (which frighteningly bring back a scene from the Playstation game Tomb Raider in which Lara Croft is attacked by a buffalo) a turn on? Most definitely not. So what I want to know is, where are all of the ‘real’ looking videos? Or do they just not exist?

Okay, you may say that porn in itself is not real. True (although you would be surprised at the number of videos uploaded by real couples – these couples never seem to consist of two women.) Yet, if you watch straight/gay porn, it has to be said that it more closely resembles sexual encounters between both males and females and gay men, than ‘lesbian’ porn resembles actual lesbian sex. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are a number of hetreosexual/homosexual videos that don’t depict anything close to what occurs in genuine sexual relationships, but there are definitely more than there are when it comes to lesbian porn.

For example, there are a number of porn websites catered towards heterosexual women that have a much more “romantic air” about them, as opposed to those porn videos where the girl is treated pretty much as a method of pleasure for the male. So where are all the porn videos catered towards us lesbians?

Oh please!

Clearly, ‘lesbian’ porn videos have been uploaded with heterosexual men in mind and what they wish to see. Again, it’s undermining our sexuality and feeding into that already-annoying notion by some heterosexual men that lesbian sex happens solely for their enjoyment. For example, on the rare occasion that I have found a decent lesbian porn video, I have noticed that at around the two minute mark, a penis will suddenly appear in my peripheral vision on screen, shortly followed by a naked male who then enjoys being… ehem serviced by both of the girls. I’ve honestly been on the verge of shouting at the screen ‘Go away!’

Sing it

Another thing that I’ve noticed (I swear I don’t actually watch porn 24/7 LOL) on the ‘lesbian’ porn front is that the videos available on the net are lacking so much in credibility that it is laughable. Case in point; one night I watched one such video in which a woman started having an ‘orgasm’ while another woman was going down on her. However, you can imagine my surprise when I realised that her sexual partners tongue/hand was nowhere near her clitoris/vagina. Now maybe I have just lived an extremely sheltered life, but I thought that the big C was of paramount importance when trying to achieve the big O through oral stimulation?

Would a little bit of research, not to mention basic sexual knowledge, be too much to ask of those who are directing such videos? I mean, at the risk of being branded stereotypical, the likelihood of one lesbian (or any woman regardless of her sexual orientation) wearing 6-inch stiletto heels during sex is highly unlikely, never mind two. Couldn’t they throw in a pair of Converse or Vans? Perhaps even a discarded checked shirt?

I NEED real lesbian porn dammit!

The climax

Due to the lack of decent lesbian porn, many lesbians are left with no other option but to watch heterosexual porn or porn featuring two men. Now while some of us may in fact enjoy watching this type of porn (it has to be said there is obviously nothing wrong with either!), I am sure there are others who if authentic looking lesbian porn was available, would opt for this option rather than the heterosexual/homosexual videos. Any lesbians that I have felt it appropriate to ask about porn preferences, have stated that they like either of the aforementioned videos because unlike lesbian videos, where women are clearly faking it to the extreme, they actually feature someone who is genuinely aroused.

Okay, so I know it would be near impossible to determine if a woman in a lesbian porn video is genuinely having an orgasm, but couldn’t the directors of these videos at least ensure that the women ‘climax’ in a believable manner, through believable methods?

Then again, is the lack of authentic looking lesbian porn videos due to an absence of demand from the worldwide lesbian population? Perhaps myself and my friends who watch porn are in the small exception? Maybe in the main, it is only men who want to watch porn? Or are the majority of lesbians just happy enough with the glimpse of naked flesh shown on episodes of either the L Word or the Real L Word? Feel free to share your opinions, I would love to hear them!:)

Álainn or Appallin’: Michelle Rodriguez

Gooner — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:17 +0000

Fast & Furious 6 hits our screens soon and with it a back-from-the-dead Letty, played by the sexy Michelle Rodriguez. Born in Texas in 1978 Michelle is know for playing tough girls who don’t take any crap and of course that means we lesbians and bi ladies do love her. The fact she can rock a pair of jeans and a tank top doesn’t hurt either, let’s be honest.

Working it

Tough cookie

Rodriguez’s family moved from Texas to the Dominican Republic and on to Puerto Rico before she was 12, eventually landing in New Jersey where they made their home. Karyn Kusama’s 2000 film Girlfight was the role that got Michelle noticed after years of playing bit parts. The film makers chose their lead with an open call for auditions in New York, Michelle beat out hundreds of women for the role of a female boxer who trains behind her families back, Rodriguez’s credentials as a tough girl were cemented with her award winner portrayal and she has flown that flag for many role since.

The following year saw her do a couple of roles including The Fast & The Furious and the very next year she stared in Resident Evil a role that caught many ladies eyes, I don’t know if you have seen it but Michelle and Milla Jovovich have some serious chemistry in that movie.

She said we have chemistry!

Lost

She has also popped up in top grossing films like Avatar and TV shows such as Lost, making her face instantly recognisable to a wider audience. She is not however, content to just play the tough girl on screen and has lent her voice to cartoons for the Cartoon Network as well as video games such as Halo 2 and animated feature films including this years Turbo. Michelle doesn’t stop there, she has her own production company, Cheshire Kat Productions, which she owns with her business partner and friend Giancarlo Chersich.

Her official website calls Michelle a cross between beauty and brawn and I think that is as good a way as describing her as you’ll find anywhere. Rodriguez has shown that a beautiful woman can be strong, smart and successful and to boot, she proves that a woman doesn’t have to play the dorky girl next door to make it in Hollywood. She has worked with directors like James Cameron and actors such as Charlize Theron and Amber Heard but what do you think of this feisty actor?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Stand up to hate speech

HAL — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Today is IDAHOT (the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia), and the No Hate Speech Movement of the Council of Europe is asking you to stand up to hate speech online.

Make it stop

National Campaign Committees have been set up in 37 Member States of the Council of Europe and 59 young people have been trained to further spread the anti-hate speech message across European countries and worldwide.

Ian McGahon, is one of the volunteers of the No Hate Speech Movement and is asking you:

Be creative! Do a video or a photo and upload it on the #nohatespeech movement to share your message: why are you against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia etc.; why do you stand for equal rights, what is your experience of hate speech. Share your video or photo message here.

Report hate speech online in our Hate Speech Watch. Many deny that hate speech exist, so we need to raise awareness and expose its dimension.

Don’t let it pass by! Respond to hate speech. You can find here some examples.

Convince politicians and decision makers to take the pledge against hate speech which targets people’s gender identity and sexual orientation!

Don’t put up with it, shut the haters up.

Sexy ladies of the Eurovision Semi 2

Webmaster — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:21 +0000

“More Eurovison!” I hear you cry, why yes, today is the day for Semi Final Two which sees such Eurovison heavy weights as Norway and Israel slog it out.

Not forgetting San Marino. Semi final two, I would say, is the weaker of the two, but that could be my Irish bias showing Also the number of ladies in this final are way down on semi final 1. It does contain one of the favourites though in the form of Margaret Berger for Norway. Let’s get straight down to it shall we?

San Marino Valentina Monetta “Crisalide (Vola)”

Like?

First up is San Marino and Valentina Monetta. If the name rings a bell it should. Remember this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kQBEzzFRBs

They had to change it to the Social Network song because singing about Facebook. However, it was announced that the songs lyrics breached rule 1.2.2. (g), which states;

The lyrics and/or performance of the songs shall not bring the Shows, the ESC as such or the EBU into disrepute. No lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature shall be permitted during the ESC. No swearing or other unacceptable language shall be allowed in the lyrics or in the performances of the songs. No commercial messages of any kind shall be allowed. A breach of this rule may result in disqualification.”

I think it should have been disqualifed on the rest of the lyrics never mind the Facebook part.

To come back from that takes a lot and it seems Valentina has managed it. It’s a good song, I think the dancey part comes in too late though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y0WfUe-p-s

Finland Krista Siegfrids “Marry Me”

She skipped dinner so she'd be thinner

If lyrics won awards for being atrociousness then stand up Krista because Marry Me is just appalling.

Baby, I feel like a sinner, skipping dinner to get thinner
Where is my proposal?

I’m your slave and you’re my master
Oh baby, come on, take your shot

Just an example of how bad this is. However Krista is being very clever and turning the song on its head by making it about gay marriage. At the end of her live performance she kisses one of her female dancers. She has stated she is making her performance about gay marriage, which is not legal in Finland currently.
Despite the awful lyrics, the song is quite catchy. I reckon it will get through to the final.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73mgy1SLHug

Israel Moran Mazor “Rak bishvilo” Only for him

Shoot the stylist

Israel always do well in the Eurovison since their initial foray into the contest in 1973. Perhaps their most famous win back in 1998 with Dana International and her Diva performance. Not sure about this song at all. Should progress to the final.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYuSe5h-rrg

Norway Margaret Berger “I Feed You My Love”

She'll feed you her love

Here comes Margaret and she is going to give Emelie from Denmark a run for her money. According to my better half, she’s going to win it. I think she will do well, top five finish I reckon but with one of its neighbours being the hot favourite I suspect a division of votes in the final. Strongest song in semi-final two IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjm-kCOMaPY

Review: Vito

Gooner — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:05 +0000

Last August I headed off into town for my annual pilgrimage to the GAZE film festival. I saw several films and was struck by the improvement in the movies offered to the LGBT community over the last 20 years, since I started going to the festival. Arguably my favourite type of film is documentaries, I have reviewed several for Gaelick over the years, and the ones on offer were wonderful yet again. This time around I went to see two, Wish Me Away (my review here) and Vito, which is now available on DVD from Peccapics.

Daring to speak his name

Incredible

This is an incredibly moving exploration into the life of Vito Russo. You may know him from his book, The Celluloid Closet, which was made into a wonderful documentary in the 90′s, but believe me when I say that book is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Vito’s contribution to LGBT rights.

You can’t mention the AIDS crisis in the USA without talking about Vito’s impassioned activism. He was a big part of the ACT UP campaign and a speaker at many marches and information events on the issue. Russo was extremely outspoken and even appeared on TV, writing and co-presenting Our Time, a news show reporting on LGBT issues of the day. An example of what a powerful speaker Vito could be can be seen here as he address an ACT UP Demonstration in New York, 1988:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ctXqdoVwk

The Celluloid Closet

However, in many ways, Vito’s legacy lies in his belief that the media portrayal of our community was a cause of great concern. This not only lead to his tour of the country, presenting The Celluloid Closet in lecture form but also his co-founding of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). This watchdog group is still a force when it comes to keeping the mainstream media in check and advancing a true image of LGBTs within the media. Not to mention the GLAAD awards, which remain one of the highlights of the gay calendar. The Vito Russo Award is a highly respected annual prize given to an out LGBT media professional who has promoted equality.

25 years later and we're still waiting. Image by Lee Snider

The film goes from one aspect of Vito’s legacy to the next, but throughout this journey you are kept in touch with who he was. A man who adored his mother, was intensely proud of his community and who dedicated his life to the fight for equality. One scene that sticks out in my mind was when a lesbian was being booed at a Pride rally for being so political and Vito stood up and begged everyone to listen to her, saying that the community is equally L, G, B and T.

I cried buckets at the end when they spoke of his death. Russo succumbed to an AIDS-related illness in 1990. On that day our community lost a strong voice and a kind man but his legacy lives on and this film is a fitting tribute, I highly recommend it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfETjT1YRRA

Sexy ladies of the Eurovision Semi 1

Webmaster — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:52 +0000

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but for me Eurovision is one of the highlights of the year. The cheesy music, the over the top outfits, the political scoring. I love everything about it. This year it appears to be the year of the ladies and not just ladies but lovely ladies. To save you time, I’ve narrowed down when is good to sit and watch and when is a good time to put the kettle on for semi final one which is on tonight.

My top five in no particular order would be: (we’re skipping straight past Estonia and Austria so if you want to get a cuppa now would be a good time before we meet):

Slovenia Hannah “Straight Into Love”

Well hello there

Ah Hannah, only you could get away with those pants. Before I laid eyes on her lovely visage, I loved this track. It’s boppy and it’s euro-pop at its finest. If only she sang Gay into Love as opposed to Straight, I’d marry her. I’ve heard rumors in her spare time she builds igloos for homeless penguins. Could be just a story though. Hannah straight into the final you go.

Interesting fact: Hannah has worked on multiple soundtracks for Disney films. There you go now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ctPQurxWAs

We skip Croatia, time for a tea top up and onto Denmark, the favourite.

Denmark Emmelie de Forest “Only Teardrops”

Will there be teardrops for Emmilie?

This wee youngster is amazing, she’s only 20 and already she is so far ahead in the polls its amazing anyone else is bothering to show up. It’s a fab song, even if the lyrics are a bit angsty. There are drummers, whistles and she’s barefoot! Just hand her the trophy already and we can all start booking our hotels in Copenhagen.

Interesting fact: Emmelie was born to a Danish mother and Swedish father. Like seriously, could you get better Eurovision stock? Only if you threw in an Irish granddad named Johnny Logan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k59E7T0H-Us

We skip Russia, sorry Dina, you’re lovely and all but I can only pick five.

Ukraine Zlata Ognevich “Gravity”

Turn off the damn wind machine!

Europe is awash with attractive ladies and by gum, Zlata is a farmer. Outstanding her field. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. She has a fine pair of pipes on her as well, one of the favorites. A bit slower than I usually prefer but remember nothing comes love but love

Interesting fact: Zlata’s real name is Inna Leonidovna Bordyug. I’m just going to stick with Zlata.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lquwJWLNy0

Belarus Alyona Lanskaya “Solayoh”

Webmaster's wife doesn't love me? What's her issue?

The wife is giving me grief over this song as it’s her ear-worm du jour at the moment. Such a catchy song, as usual try to ignore the lyrics as they make zero sense. This song will be rocking the clubs all over Europe I reckon. Should get her into the final.

Interesting fact: She was disqualified from Eurofest 2012 cause the producers had rigged the votes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th0dZ0llxJY

Serbia Moje 3 “Ljubav je svuda” (Љубав је свуда) Love is everywhere

We're best buds honest

Serbia have made the genius move of sending not one, not two but three lovely ladies with a catchy number. And we all know Serbia could send a turtle in a hat and it will still do well. Catchy number, cute ladies, Serbia head on there into the final and stop holding up the traffic.

Interesting fact: All three girls placed, respectively, the first, the second and the third position in the second season of Prvi glas Srbije (English: The First Voice of Serbia), a Serbian music talent show similar to The Voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWbAdDB1ukE

I can’t mention semi-final one and not mention the lovely Ryan, he’ll be performing in position 13 and if you haven’t already heard the song check him out below. I predict a top 10 finish for us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so8YtlxN1Us

1st Semi-Final – Tuesday 14th May 2013 , BBC Three and RTE1

Being gay is bad for your health, apparently

Webmaster — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:37 +0000

Charley lays it on

Unsurprisingly, the internet has provided a medium for yet another offensive and extremist anti-gay group, this time in the form of Faith 2 Action. The group, which discourages people from engaging in homosexual behaviour, has recently released a video in which they present ‘scientific’ evidence to suggest that being gay is three times more dangerous to your health than being a smoker. Naturally, I was intrigued to hear this argument…

Faith 2 Action has two brain cells

The group has taken it upon themselves to parody the famous book, Heather has Two Mommies, which was released in the late 1980s as part of a campaign to support homosexuality and adoption. The parody, which is a focal point in their production, is entitled, Heather has Two Cigarettes, and is used as a tool to encourage children into becoming smokers; although I feel fairly confident instating that the original text was NOT being used as a method to encourage children into being homosexual, or engaging in homosexual behaviour, which is what seems to be implied by this video.

One girl in the classroom remarks that she is a non-smoker and that her mother told her smoking was bad; this outburst is met with the threat that she will be sent to the principle’s office for not complying with smoking behaviour. I’m not sure how things worked where everyone else went to school but I was never a) asked to smoke in a classroom, or asked to engage in a homosexual act, which is after all what this video is likening smoking to or b) threatened to be sent to my head teacher for refusing to engage in either of the above acts.

Puh-lease!

Straights don’t get STIs!

To make the video seem like it has at least a small amount of validity, they’ve shipped in Gary Glenn to quote some statistics from The Journal of Epidemiology. From this chunk of the video we discover that smoking can reduce someone’s life by 7 years; however homosexual behaviour can reduce someone’s life from anywhere between 8 and 20 years – shocking, isn’t it?

The only problem is, it isn’t homosexual behaviour that decreases life, it’s the transmission of HIV/AIDS. Glenn cleverly quotes statistics relating to how many STIs are caught by homosexuals and how damaging they can be to the health of the average person, as if these diseases can’t be caught and indeed spread through heterosexual sex too. One meant-to-be-persuasive moment of the video even shows a snapshot of the headline ‘Modelling the impact of HIV disease on mortality in gay and bisexual men’ – surely this makes HIV the route cause of the damage, rather than actually being gay? And as far as I’m aware, HIV is not limited to the homosexual community.

Straight? Then relax, lady, you can't get STIs

The video continues along the path of homosexual hate with their righteous claims as they proceed to explain that it is their Christian duty to discourage people from engaging in self-destructive behaviour, which is apparently what the group considers homosexuality to be.

I’m very aware that statistics have suggested in the past that HIV/AIDS is more common amongst gay men; what the up-to-date findings are on this matter I do not know, thus, I don’t feel entitled to comment on them. However, what I do feel entitled to comment on is this ridiculous campaign; actively engaging in a behaviour that science has proven does severe damage to your body (yes, I am discussing smoking here) is in no way comparable to homosexuality and, shame on those who have taken part in the campaign, it is a heinous and ludicrous comparison to inflict upon children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFwBWNpqY3o

Squash it!

HAL — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:00:21 +0000

The LGBT squash group In4Squash Ireland will shortly be running a series of women’s-only coaching sessions in the south Dublin area.

Jenny, the squash coach, plays for Ireland so is admirably qualified to give advice on how to improve your game and make you a contender on court. The aim is to give beginners and improvers a solid grounding in the game over a series of three coaching sessions.

What a racquet!

Reasons to play Squash:

You enjoy bouncing off walls.

You can a fake heart attack on court to freak out your opponent (it’s a game of wits as well as athleticism).

You want to feel like the cursor in an Atari arcade game. Retro games rock.

You’d like to play tennis, but it’s raining. Again.

You look snazzy in shorts. Or a skort. Or leggings. Dammit, show off those legs.

You want to play a sport for Ireland. (It’s a minority sport, train hard and you can do it).

You have a short attention span, so you like fast games.

You can hit a small rubber ball repeatedly against multiple walls, to dazzlingly outwit a fleet-footed opponent.

For further details, email, join In4squash Ireland on Facebook or, check out the website

Keep on running

HAL — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:00:47 +0000

June may seem like a long way off, but you know it’s just around the corner. As soon as June pops her sunny head in the door, it’s Pride time. I know! It only flies in.

So here we are to give you a gansey-load of notice to get signed-up and ready for the Pride Run. It doesn’t matter if you’re Usain Bolt or a snail with issues, this is all about fun. You can walk, jog, run or crawl the 5km. Last year’s was amazing craic and I recommend you dust off your trainers for this year. Plus you get a very sexy t-shirt!

The Park

Did you know that the Phoenix Park in Dublin is 350 years old this year? See, another reason to come along and enjoy a (hopefully) sunny day out with L, G, B and T friends and family.

Dave Shaw, race director of the Pride Run, said:

Just after the longest day of the year, this is a short distance fun run in lovely surroundings on a summer evening. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to come down to the Phoenix Park and celebrate Our City, Our Park, Our Pride.

There will be a party afterwards in the Phoenix Park polo club for all participants. 5K is a perfect distance for anyone trying to get into a running routine for summer and the event will be good fun for all the family.

We’re delighted to support Headstrong National Centre for Youth Mental Health and all profits will go to this very worthwhile charity.

You can register for the run/walk/jog here until 20th June. You know it makes sense.

People can visit the DFR website for further information: www.dublinfrontrunners.ie/wp/index.php/pride-run/ Online registration for the run will be available until Thursday 20th June.

Competition: Crush tickets and a free round!

Webmaster — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:05 +0000

The good people over at Crush have set aside two guest list spots for a lucky Gaelick reader AND a round at the bar for the Crush Summer Fun! happening Friday (May 17th) in the Grand Social.

It’s summer celebrate it at Crush! We have a summer crush on you!

Admission: €5 before 12am €10 after!

Lucy Spraggan is in town on the 17th! If you are going keep your ticket stub for €5 all night!

Are you a lady who likes ladies, a woman who likes women or a girl who likes girls? (Or one of their guy friends?) Good news! CRUSH is here to fulfil your clubbing needs! Turn up. Have fun. Get CRUSHed!

Where? The Grand Social is an award winning venue at the Ha’penny Bridge in Dublin. This unique venue is the home of Dublin hottest girls night!

Smoking Garden now fully covered with delicious burgers available all night!

Drinks promos this month include:
-Vodka or Spiced Rum & dash €5
-3 Bottles of San Miguel €10
-3 Bottles of Bavaria €10
-3pt pitcher Carlsberg €12
-Special shot €3.50
-Mojitos €6.50

Drink sensibly yo!

Admission is only €5 before 12am €10 after.

To enter the competition for the, all you have to do is leave a comment below – be sure to include a valid email address so we can contact you if you’re the lucky winner! (Your email will be kept private, and will not be used for any other purpose.)

The competition runs from now until Thursday May 16th.

After that, we’ll pull a name out of the hat. Simples!

(P.S. – If you comment more than once, we’ll just count one entry so none of your messing!)

Delaware Becomes 11th State to Approve the Freedom to Marry

Webmaster — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:00:29 +0000

Dover – Yesterday, the Delaware state Senate approved freedom to marry legislation, following House passage two weeks ago and putting Delaware on track to be the eleventh state to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Governor Jack Markell, a champion of the legislation, is expected to sign the bill into law immediately. The law is expected to go into effect on July 1.

Marc Solomon, national campaign director of Freedom to Marry, released the following statement:

“Today’s historic vote makes Delaware the eleventh state across the U.S. where loving and committed couples can share in the joy and protections that marriage brings. As happy couples and their loved ones celebrate and prepare for the first weddings in Delaware – following the win in Rhode Island just a few days ago – this milestone sends yet another message to the Supreme Court that it’s time for marriage for all Americans. Freedom to Marry is proud of its work with Equality Delaware to secure this victory, and we look forward to surging forward and continuing the momentum in Illinois and Minnesota later this month.”

Freedom to Marry served as a lead partner on the Delaware campaign and helped pave the way for a victory by providing strategic guidance and counsel on all aspects of the legislative campaign, in addition to managing the campaign’s digital strategy. While leading Delaware’s online campaign, Freedom to Marry helped identify over 6,000 new online supporters and generated more than 5,500 emails to legislators. In addition, Freedom to Marry was the lead investor in the campaign, contributing nearly $200,000 to the effort.

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Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.

All I wanted was the dream

Webmaster — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:00:55 +0000

KRIS DEL VAYZE, the star and co-founder of internationally acclaimed Australian drag troupe DRAGS ALOUD makes her third appearance at the IDGTF.

In this show, gone are the over-the-top costumes, the crazy dance routines, the madcap comedy and silliness. This is an acoustic version – Kris and her creator (and writer Marc der Veer), on their collective own with a bared soul and their heart on their sleeve.

This is the story of a child going against the odds, facing abuse and bullying; a teenage boy trying to fit into an unaccepting world; a world facing its own crises, and of a man who allowed fate to shape the course of his life whilst overcoming shattered dreams, riding incredible highs and succumbing to crushing lows. This is a story of survival, immense love, weakness, strength, success and failure. At no time is this a cry for sympathy. It is quite simply the story of a perfectly flawed human being.

Set in a shabby makeshift dressing room after a New Year’s Eve show, Kris reflects on her life and wonders what this New Year will bring by way of change: to those suffering inequality, to those suffering as she had suffered, and social change. Whilst peeling off the layers of ‘dragdom’, and her life she also reveals the masculine, private citizen that is at the heart of this international drag artiste.

This rollercoaster-ride of tragedy and comedy has yet to reach its final destination – so hold onto the safety rail and enjoy the ride!

All I wanted was the dream
Theatre @ Pantibar, 7-8 Capel street Dublin 1
13, 14, 15, 16, 17 May 2013 @ 8.00 PM 18 May 2013 @ 6.30 PM
Matinee 18 May 4:30PM
Tickets: Full €15.00, Conc. €13.00 (Matinee €10.00)

E: kris@krisdelvayze.com
W: www.krisdelvayze.com

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Gay Theatre Festival

GuestPoster — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:00:55 +0000

Shoegirl gets all cultural

Very quietly, May is creeping into our lives, and with it, the Dublin Gay Theatre festival. This has been an excellent festival in recent years and this year should be no exception. Festivities start today and continue until 19th May, with plenty for all tastes, and even a few shows that are family friendly.

Venues
This year’s venues include The Cobalt Cafe, The Teachers Club, James Joyce Centre Players Theatre but also Pantibar and The Front Lounge, amongst others. So there is a venue to suit everybody. Most are small, situated off the north-end of O’Connell St and tickets are priced€ 15 for full price tickets and €13 for concessions. There are also about half a dozen free events for those who can’t afford to pay, so no excuse for not coming.

Eilish O'Carroll from Live, Love, Laugh

For the Birds
Live, Love, Laugh is a one woman comedy show featuring out actress Eilish O’Carroll. This includes the intriguing request to the audience to be there at least 10 minutes early to “assist our front of house staff” so we take it audience participation is involved. (Players Theatre)

Shout! – the mod musical involves no less than 5 girl performers, and music from 60s greats such as Dusty Springfield and Petulia Clarke. (Powerscourt Townhouse)

I Run, I Sing, I Swim, I Dive tells the tale of Countess Markeiviz’s women-loving sister Eva Gore-Booth (I didn’t know either). Well now you and I both have the chance to go and find out. (Teachers Club)

Maria Callas, worth fighting for

Free Stuff
Again, we are spoilt for music. The Lisbon Traviata appears to be basically 2 queens squabbling over Maria Callas (so what’s new?). It’s in Outhouse parterre.com is your only friend.

Interesting Stuff
Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince. A family friendly, musical setting of the Wilde classic, this is showing in the Teachers Club in Parnell Square. This is the classical parable of the prince statue and the migrating swallow that should cheer the cockles of your heart.

As an ex-musican who played and sang a lot of Handel and specialised largely in 17th and 18th century German music, I couldn’t resist mentioning Handel’s Cross. Described as fetish/drama, this is the tale of castrati and debauched divas. Just like modern opera and its performers really.

The Francis Bacon Opera, produced by UK based Upstart Opera, is described as “Pretentious nonsense masquerading as experimental theatre”. It’s on in the Hugh Lane Gallery and the James Joyce centre on Nth Gt George’s St. The very fact that they’ve used this review tempts me to go.

Benjamin Britten and his partner Peter Pears

Yet more plays of a musical nature includes Once in a While the Odd Thing Happens, about gay English composer Benjamin Britten. His lifelong love affair with tenor Peter Pears is one of the few happy stories of gay life of the 20th century, so it could be interesting. At the James Joyce centre.

This is just a small taster of what is available, so there is no excuse for dropping over to the festival website and sampling these and other shows on offer.

No Happily Ever After in NI

Gooner — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:24:11 +0000

Whilst here in the Republic of Ireland we are all still celebrating the Constitutional Conversion voting by 79% to recommend to government to take steps towards legalising same sex marriage, our friends up north have had a major set back. The Belfast Telegraph has reported that a Sinn Fein bid to legalise same sex marriage in the UK province has failed.

Northern Ireland is a unique UK territory in that it does not recognise same sex partnerships under the law in any way. The Stormont Assembly saw emotional debates on the subject, as well as impassioned protests from both sides outside, before the unionists voted the motion down.

Northern Ireland is an area that has had to deal with discrimination of various sections of its society for generations and so it is a shame to see this motion fail. I, for one, had hoped the assembly would want to push the country past this kind of segregation of rights but sadly that is not the case. Religious leaders asked assembly members to vote the motion down and so far it looks like they have prevailed.

In term of the future of the motion, Amnesty International has said they may well challenge the collapse of the move. Their NI programme director, Patrick Corrigan said

states may not discriminate with regards to the right to marry and found a family, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity

John O’Doherty, director of the Rainbow Project health organisation added

This will be won slowly so we appreciate every vote that we got. We are disappointed with the outcome. It has always been a difficult march towards equality here but we will continue to fight the good fight.

Would you go to a women-only gym?

Webmaster — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:49:30 +0000

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Emigration Blues

GuestPoster — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:00:09 +0000

Louise sticks to home

If you have been, as the Department of Social Protection call it, “habitually resident” in this country over the last few years you will not have been able to escape the headlines that tell us the Irish population is dwindling as droves of people head for pastures new. I don’t need the paper to tell me this, over the last few years my friends have steadily left the country (honestly most have left out of choice but that’s a whole other discussion for the Ministers’ statistics).

Later suckers!

Abandon ship

Sometimes I go to so many leaving do’s it feels as if I’m surely going to be the last person left here. It can be quite easy to get very, very sad that almost everybody you are used to surrounding yourself with has abandoned ship, and you hear of festivals and farms, college studies and jobs, and things I can only imagine; like places where it doesn’t rain all the time and you can eat fruit right off the trees, while it feels like all you have to say is “you know Mary up the road? She got her visa too”.

Buuutt if you’re so busy focused on what’s going on in countries you don’t live in and only the negative in the one you do, you’ll be missing out on all the pretty awesome stuff that goes on here – All. The. Time.

So! Here’s a few tips to beat the emigration blues. This is a bit Dublin-centric my apologies because that is where I hail from, but I know a lot is happening all around our fair Isle – please feel free to bulk this out with goings on from around the country.

Take up something that involves being happy spending time on your own. It can be something you join a group to do but that you’ll be comfortable doing solo – meditation, knitting, running etc.

Get inspired

Appreciate your surroundings, we live in a beautiful country! Weather too crap to be admiring the view? Thanks to mass unemployment lots of lovely and affordable coffee shops and food places are springing up all over the place. If you’ve no one to go with bring a book or whatever technological tool holds your interest the most.

If you’re that way inclined volunteer, if you’re stuck for ideas volunteer ie is a good place to get inspired!!

Join an organisation you have an interest in. You don’t have to give up all of your newly-found free time to volunteer every lonesome evening but even ‘Like’ a few groups you’re interested in on Facebook or sign up to be on their mailing lists. This is handy because you can be part of something from the comfort of your own home or/and many organisations run free events around the country; it’s a good way to keep informed, keep busy, get connected and maybe meet some like minded people. For example Amnesty International, The National Women’s Council.

Srsly, it was awesome, obvs

There are plenty of kool and happening things going on in Dublin’s fair city and many are free or low cost. Dublin Event Guide and Le Cool are free to subscribe to and send a weekly email around about whatever’s all the rage during a particular week. There are also great websites to just look up on a whim and see what’s on on a particular day – like templebar.ie.

That sounds all very well and good but if you’re not someone who’s ok with a picnic for one at an outdoor cinema festival?

Introducing Meetup! On the website you create a profile and select a region and join groups to your hearts content! There’s everything from specific interests to ones aimed at making friends. Meetup is great if you’re feeling like a bit of a loser, because a lot of people go alone to find other people of likeminded interests/other people at all (not in a creepy way. Usually not in a creepy way). There’s a group called Running Amach for LGBTQ women in Dublin.

And finally, get on Skype, get writing (write for Gaelick!), get emailing, and do as Baz Luhrmann says (listen to this song – you may cry, but they’ll be good tears!) – “work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle”, just because somebody has left the country doesn’t mean they have left you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI

Ex-gay comes out

GuestPoster — Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:40 +0000

Charley talks conversion

If there’s one thing that I never tire of seeing articles about, it’s the idea that being homosexual is something that an individual can be ‘cured’ of; in fact, one of my first articles for this very website was a shocking piece delving into ‘treatment’ practices in other countries.

Something rather interesting that has popped up on the internet recently, relating to this very topic, is a statement made by American citizen, John Paulk, who, after being a poster boy for ‘conversion therapy’, has finally admitted that the treatment that he told the world had worked, actually hadn’t made a difference at all to his sexuality.

Paulk became the face of the campaign, which was launched back in the 1990s, branding himself as an ‘ex-gay’, as if there is such a thing.

Ex ex-gay, John Paulk

After turning back to being straight, Paulk then married his now ex-wife Ann, who had also undergone this conversion therapy. With both members of the marriage successfully ‘cured’ of their homosexuality, they proceeded to advertise and support the campaign and even wrote books about their experience, entitled Love Won Out and Not Afraid to Change: The Remarkable Story of How One Man Overcame Homosexuality.

Coming out again

Paulk, who is now 50, has decided that living a lie is no longer for him and has completely cut ties with both the campaign and his wife, who is still entirely devoted to the movement. Alongside bravely coming out the closet, for a second time, Paulk is also discouraging people from buying the aforementioned books as he no longer wishes to be affiliated with the ‘ex-gay’ movement that seems to be sweeping through so many countries.

It has always been a strong belief of mine that in using therapy to try and manipulate someone’s sexuality, you are simply asking for trouble. It’s a dangerous and damaging process and personally, I can’t help but feel that trying to stop someone from being gay is likely to do much more damage to them mentally, than ‘allowing’ them to be gay ever will. My thoughts, that I will stand by in all future articles relating to this topic, are also reinforced by Paulk himself who has remarked how damaging the therapy was, claiming that, “It does great harm to many people.”

On behalf of Gaelick, and everyone else who has found themselves subject to such heinous procedures and suggestions, I would like to congratulate John Paulk on this outstanding act of bravery… coming out was bad enough the first time, let alone having to do it twice!

Make a match

GuestPoster — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:16 +0000

Shoegirl goes old school

Well it had to happen, didn’t it. It was only a matter of time. We’ve had Gaydar (and its sister Gaydargirls) for over 10 years, the Pinksofa, Grindr, and various other gay-focused 1-on-1 meeting sites. I don’t think they are correctly called dating sites because they provide more than just that – they are about meeting for all kinds of reasons, some social and some purely sexual. Here in Dublin we even have an event now and then doing speed dating for those seeking same-sex partners. But what we’ve really been missing, all along, is the traditional matchmaking service or event that our hetero cousins have always enjoyed.

Could it happen for you?

Meet your match

Now I’m not talking about the marriage bureau service in Knock or your older relatives constantly trying to push you towards that seemingly ideal opposite sex partner who for some bizarre reason you seem no more interested in than next year’s European Budget. I’m talking about the old fashioned meet up that is Lisdoonvarna. Yes, the match-making festival. It still exists, mostly to cater to a slightly older clientele who perhaps might be perceived as having missed the boat, but also as a tribute to older (and for some, gentler) times.

So it’s no surprise in these days of longer pockets and lighter wallets that Lisdoonvarna has now stared catering for the LGBT community. After all, there is some evidence that while many only come out later in life, it is no easy ride meeting somebody if you are 40 or over. The gay scene is highly focused on pub/club based, noisy, boozy late night fests. When you’re that bit older, you might, like me, prefer a glass of wine and a few tapas in a quieter space than dancing on the bar at 4am.

This man could change your life. Image by John Kelly

In fact an increasing number of my friends and family (and this goes for the straight ones too) don’t drink, smoke or take recreational drugs anymore and find settings focused on this annoying at best and hostile at worst. I recently spent a night in a Manhattan bar where I am fairly sure there was nobody else aside from the bar tender within 5 years of my age – an awkward moment.

So I see that a weekend is catering for ourselves. And it’s just the same as it is for the straights, the host will be the legendary Panti, there will be entertainment including drag for those of us who like that, activities (not sure what these are), but most importantly, matchmaker Willie Daly will be on hand to help us get it together. And that is, of course, what the whole weekend is about: breaking through the clouds for those of us who have been finding it that little bit harder to actually find somebody you like, and maybe give you a push in the right direction.

How do you do it?

So do we need matchmakers? In these days of social media, complex families, intercontinental relationships, and seemingly easier relationship building through online conversation? It seems so. You see, for me, part of the problem has been that many of the people I really like and get on with have been all over the world. At one point, a really close friend whom I frequently went out with when we both lived in Cork travelled the world and went to New Zealand for a year. The daily texts continued, except for both of us it was SMS ping pong at 3am. Suddenly conversations go into slow-motion. And LOTS of friends have met somebody online or while travelling, with intercontinental relationships that make my ex partners 250 mile one look a cinch.

I’ve seen West Coast Canada to Australia, East Coast Canada and US to Ireland. Middle East to South Africa. One end of Europe to the opposite end of Europe. Sweden to Spain (they got married!!) It seems so much easier to actually find somebody in your own land, if you can. So there is a lot of room for weekends like this. Its hugely welcome, especially for those of us who are a little older, greyer and wiser.

Get thee to Clare

Insight?

What exactly can a matchmaker add to it though? Well, from my own experience of dating over the last few years, perhaps a little insight. Online dating is so horrendous it becomes more nerve racking, not less so. And don’t start me on well-meaning friends trying to set you up. (“You’ve got to be kidding me Sue, she looks like Frankenstein’s Igor – and she hasn’t even said hello.”) Or the worst nightmare scenario. You meet somebody you kinda like, get a bit friendly, not quite yet at the point of plucking up the courage to say anything. Just then, a “friend” says they are around for the weekend – and next thing you know they’ve hit it off and disappeared into the sunset together. Yeah that happens – too frequently.

So where the matchmaker could come in is in terms of the additional set of eyes. You know that nice woman over there? I know she’s not saying anything but she’s been looking over at you all evening. Oh, I never knew, I just thought she was rude. Actually she’s shit scared, because she actually thinks you’re great. And you know what – there is no agenda there, no axe to grind, no personal games on the go.

I think it’s a great idea, really. I might just go to Lisdoonvarna.

Out in the NBA

Gooner — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:36:39 +0000

Welcome out brother!

At last the NBA has an out athlete, congratulations to Jason Collins who, at 34, has come out whilst still playing at the top level. Collins did an interview with Sports Illustrated, which will be published on May 6 2013, in which he declares himself a proud gay professional athlete. This makes him the first openly LGBT playing in a major American team sport.

Our All Star

Born in LA, Jason has raised right to the top of his sport playing for New Jersey, Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston and Washington and winning accolades along the way and appearing in two NBA Finals. However, although not a regular starter or an all star, Jason has broken through and made a very powerful statement

I’m a 34-year-old N.B.A. center. I’m black and I’m gay

Fantastic! Jason joins the ranks of cricket player Steve Davis, ex rugby star Gareth Thomas and GAA player Donal Og Cusack, but for the American audience this move can’t be overstated, in a country of jocks, this is massive.

Collins says he began thinking of coming out back in 2011 when there was an NBA player lockout, the season was delayed and Jason had some time to think. Arriving at this place in time, on the cover of Sports Illustrated, makes a bold statement to the world of sports and hopefully he is the first of many to put their hand up and declare with pride that they are gay athletes that kick ass on the court.

Out pro in American sport

Bold

Jason mentions that the Boston Marathon bombing made him stop and realise that there might never be a perfect time to come out and that you just don’t know what is around the corner. He decided to come out now and it’s empowering for everyone to see.

I love this quote

I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue

We can all relate to that I think. I am so pleased for him and for all of the kids and adults alike who will have to stop and think about the stereotypes they follow blindly now that Jason has taken this step. Lets hope that the next time he walks on the court he gets the support and respect he deserves.