Loud and Queer

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Calm down slut-queen!  No need to worry about that headline. This story takes place in the Middle East…You can continue our pig parade here…But, lets get a little serious for a serious problem brewing in Saudi Arabia…

LGBTQ activists are concerned for the safety of a 30-year-old man arrested by the religious police in Saudi Arabia for using Facebook to date other men. The man, whose exact identity is not known, was arrested on 23 December, with full details of the incident are only now becoming clear after a detailed investigation by Gay Middle East. Experts warn he may face blackmail and/or corporal punishment.

He is being held in custody awaiting prosecution. The case has been reported to Amnesty International. Uber-political Facebook,  declined to comment.

The story goes, that a Saudi citizen reported an unnamed 30-year old man to the Religious police in Saudi Arabia, known as the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which proceeded to apprehend the man who finally confessed that “the Facebook profile is his and that he had been using it for obscenity acts with other men”.

Saudi law is not strictly codified and its implementation, in either a lenient or severe manner, depends mostly on religious judges and scholars, as well as royal decrees (and thus subject to extreme variability). Past punishments for homosexuality range from imprisonment and/or flogging to the death. Conviction and severity of punishments depends on the social class, religion and citizenship of the accused, whereby non-western migrant workers receive usually harsher treatment than upper class Saudi citizens.

Sami Hamwi, Syria Editor of Gay Middle East, and former Saudi resident explains: “Native born Saudi citizens who are Suni or from the Bedouin tribes in the country are often let off, while punishment are severely executed against minorities like Shiites and or newly naturalised citizens. Punishments regarding homosexuality are also held against expatriates working in Saudi Arabia, especially those coming from Asian, African and Arab countries. Dammam is a largely Shiite area and if the 30 year old aforementioned man is a Shiite, he is likely to be trailed and sentenced harshly.”

A spokesperson for Amnesty International said :”Amnesty International is seeking more information on this case. If the man reported in the Sabq story has been arrested and charged with homosexuality, Amnesty International would consider him to be a prisoner of conscience and call for his immediate and unconditional release. Saudi Arabia has sentenced people convicted of homosexuality and ‘sodomy’ to a range of penalties including corporal punishment and even the death penalty. The criminalization of homosexuality encourages the dehumanization of lesbians, gay men, bisexual people and transgender people (LGBT) as their very identity is criminalized.”

“Amnesty International considers the use of ‘sodomy’ laws to imprison (usually) men for same-sex relations in private to be a grave violation of human rights, including the rights to privacy, to freedom from discrimination, to freedom of expression and association, which are protected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation also voiced concerns: “It is extremely worrying to hear that that the Saudi police have entrapped this man when we know that Saudi-Arabia is one of the remaining countries in the world where homosexual acts are punishable at worst Death, but also by severe corporal punishment and imprisonment.”

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On the weekend of January 27th, 28th and 29th, Philadelphia’s Sapphire Fund (SF) will present Sapphire Weekend, three days of events to raise money for the region’s LGBT charitable organizations. SF was established in 2002 to support the efforts of organizations contributing to the health and well-being of Philly’s queer community and those who support them.  They used to throw a circuit party, the amazing Blue Ball, which gracefully retired last year.
“Blue Ball Weekend was the fundraising cornerstone of Sapphire Fund for 20 years, with last year being its final year” says board President Domenic Gallelli. “We felt that this was the perfect time to launch something fresh and innovative, something that would be appealing to a broader subset of the LGBT community. As our stakeholders have grown and evolved, we as a responsible organization are compelled to oblige.”

Sapphire Weekend will feature three signature events all built around the Ball on Saturday, January 28th in the magnificent Franklin Monument at the Franklin Institute.
But, lets not get too far ahead of ourselves…First, lets talk about Friday.  Kicking the weekend off, the Winter Wonderland Ball is presented by Stimulus and takes place at Voyeur Nightclub. This little glam-boree promises a red carpet, live entertainment and DJs, and is a semi-formal event. (CLASSY, bithes! Classy!) Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

On Saturday, Sapphire Ball  will run from 10pm to 1am on January 28th, and will feature a fabulous ten-piece band in one of the most spectacular rooms in Philadelphia. The Sapphire Ball Reception will precede the event from 8-10PM.  The weekend will also feature Sapphires Sunday Brunch, taking place at the Pyramid Club, with stunning panoramic views of the city. I had a boozy, boozy, brunchy time at this event last year – LOVED IT!

VIP tickets are priced at $150 and include both events and open bar. Tickets for Sapphire Ball only are priced at $60 with a cash bar. Special pricing is available for pairs – two tickets for $100! That makes this event perfect for you cougar-couples on the prowl! Growl!  Really feeling ritzy, then those who wish to purchase VIP tickets for both the Ball and Brunch can – at a cost of $185.

What happens to this money? Do they just buy a truck full of poppers and go to town?  Use it all up on GayLive Network?  No!  The all-volunteer board of the Sapphire Fund chooses a set of beneficiaries each year, to which funds are distributed late in the year. Sapphire Weekend will serve as the organization’s signature event and their largest fundraising effort of the year.  So come out and support if you are in the Philly area!

For 2012, Sapphire Fund has chosen two organizations as beneficiaries. The National Adoption Center’s goal is to place children in happy and healthy homes, and the Center is placing heavy focus on helping LGBT individuals and couples with adoption services. Child Advocates provides social and legal services to abused and neglected children in the Philadelphia region. They are also launching a LGBT-specific initiative, considering that so many children are treated poorly at home as a result of their sexual orientation.

“We have an amazing, dedicated group of people who are enthusiastic and committed to the success of this new event as well as to the continued mission of Sapphire Fund,” said Gallelli.

The landmark West Village gay bar and restaurant Julius‘, which bills itself as the oldest gay bar in the city  (drinks were first slung in 186

4), was closed after health inspectors found roaches and evidence of mice there, according to Department of Health records. Yikes! Not the kind of furry little friends I want to find when I head out to the pubs!

Julius’, which serves hamburgers and sandwiches, racked up 52 violation points for health code infractions! The list includes: keeping cold foods at insufficiently low temperatures, improperly sanitizing surfaces that come in contact with food, and improperly using pesticides!  Makes you hungry, doesn’t it?

Owner Helen Buford said Wednesday morning that she expected Julius’ to be re-inspected Wednesday and able to reopen after the follow-up visit.  Get cracking Helen, you don’t want to miss the thirsty Thursday crowd!

This ain’t the first time that this joint has had trouble.. Inspectors found fewer problems during inspections earlier in 2011. In March, inspectors gave 21 violation points for evidence of  vermin. In June, Julius’ received 15 points for evidence of mice and improper sanitation of surfaces that come in contact with food.

Yelp peeps described the joint’s food as “dirty” and “greasy.”  I am fine with greasy – but dirty? Dirty? No thanks!

Julius’  was not always a health code mess, and it was not always gay either…The bar actually only started to attract the queers in the ’50s.  In 1966 sparked a city Human Rights Commission investigation of discrimination against homosexuals in bars, according to the establishment’s website.

Twilight hunk Taylor Lautner claims to be heterosexual, although nobody with working ears or eyes believes him…

When a mock cover of People mag turned up on the internet this week, trumpeting his honesty about his big puffy cock-sucking mouth – people cheered! Jesus, my own Grandmother tweeted it!

But, as happens these days, this bogus “story” was picked up, hastily rewritten and posted on about 80 kajillion websites, EXAMPLE, within minutes.  It’s like the whole world was waiting for him to come screaming out of the closet! Lord knows I was….

All this drama got me thinking… What would (WILL) an interview with Taylor be like when he finally admits to being a butt pirate?  What would it say? What kind of scandalous truth would it reveal?

Well, to satisfy my wacky imagination, I decided to create a completely FICTION interview.  AGAIN, this is FICTION.  None is true!

Loud & Queer: Hello Taylor!

Taylor Lautner: Hey Loud & Queer – I love your website!  I read it every single day!

Loud & Queer: Really? Okay, thanks for sitting down with us…How are you today?  What’s new?

Taylor Lautner: Tired! I was the “courtesy bottom” at a Radical Fairy gathering in Sedona last night. Shit girl, that’s tough work!

L&Q: Ummmmm…. Well, I guess that kinda brings us to our next question….So are the rumors true?

TL: If the rumors are that I am pregnant with Kellan Lutz‘s baby – totes false. I never let that trashy bastard bareback me.  She’s a bottom, anyway…

L&Q: So, I suppose we can infer that you are admitting to being gay.

TL: Absolutely sister. I am a proud cock-sucking, dick-gobbling, butt pirate, friend of Dorothy, rainbow-flag-waiving, ass-munching, pillow-biting, baton twirling, Glee-luvin, Gay Live Network subscribing, Queeny McQueenson, faggoty faggot…With a capital F!

L&Q: What about your high-profile relationships with Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez?

TL: Taylor and Selena are great. Just amazing ladies.  But we were never serious.  Total studio PR move. The suits in charge – who are all gay too – well they get nervous…They don’t think America is ready for a big bouncy power-bottom action movie star.  So, they kinda manufacture these little relationships.  So…Yeah, Selena and Tay-tay were completely fake. Although I did make-out with Selena one night when were were crashing on wine coolers and Oxy…

L&Q: Any upcoming projects you’d like to talk about?

TL: What? You mean like work? Are you crazy? I made millions off those Twilight movies.  MILLIONS!  Who needs to work? I’m going to take the next few months off and spend time getting down to the nitty-gritty of my ever-lovin’ gay-ness!  I’m trampin’ it up girl! Key West, here I come!

Looking for a new hot-spot for your gay-gay-gay holiday vacation?

Tired of Provincetown? Completely bored with Rehoboth?  Sick to death of the snobs in New York and Fire Island?  Hate the French and think the Italians are smelly?  Fucked everyone from Ibiza to Mykonos?

Well, don’t disappear!  The recent uprisings in the Middle East have meant some slight relaxation in the moral codes – and buggery is creeping into the Sahara!  (Yes, I have NO idea what I am talking about….)   Yes homos, you can now enjoy a sex-filled time in the Paris of the Middle East…BEIRUT!

BEIRUT!

The capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population over 1 million, Beirut is located on a peninsula on the Mediterranean coastline. Some of you may fondly recall it from your childhood, when the town was repeatedly bombed, bombed and BOMBED TO HIGH HELL by Christians, Muslims, Jews, and basically anyone else with TNT.

But, let those memories fade away…  After the destructive Lebanese civil war, bitches began to rebuild Beirut!  Now, this bustling metropolis features a redesigned marina, pubs and nightlife districts.  (NIGHTLIFE!) Further proving it’s okay to take your burka off,  Beirut was named the top place to visit in 2009 by The New York Times!.  And we all know, that the Times does not LIE!

So they have shopping, booze, and beautiful sites.  Still not convinced?  Well cocksucker, what if I told you they have a HAPPENING GAY SCENE?  I’m not kidding! Nor am i making it up. And I am not stealing it from Wikipedia either!

Albawaba.com, a very well-respected Middle Eastern site, reports that it’s hotter then a circuit party in Beirut right now. I mean, sexy time all the time! Here are  my fav quotes from the article:

“There’s a road in Dekwaneh where gays go to cruise, called Freeway,” he says. “They meet up, talk, or go somewhere to hook up. But that’s not something that many guys would do. You hear stories about people going to hook up and getting robbed at knifepoint.”

Sounds like I should book my tickets now!  What do you think?

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Are you following these dirty (and cute) hippies/hipsters in the  Occupy Wall Street movement?  Those little freedom fighters have gotten a lot of media attention and  grown significantly in two months since they sprung up! They have even taken their protest show on the road and franchised! Their is a Occupy movement in almost every city!

And at the Occupy Oakland encampment, their was absolutely some action that all of the 99% can appreciate! Before the were evicted from outside City Hall, Occupy Oakland was the setting for a gay porn video!  Here’s how they describe this insta-classic:

“Branden and Skylar take a break from the rally in Oakland to occupy each other with their cocks! It’s a challenge to exercise the right to free speech with your mouth full, but these horny boys are UP to the challenge! It’s great to see hot, idealistic young men COME together for a cause!”

New York-based Dirty Boy Video set their latest flick, “Occupy My Throat,” at the encampment at Frank Ogawa Plaza, using footage of the protests in their B-roll before going X-rated.  It is doubtful they actually used any of the real Occupy kids, but who knows?  Follow that link and check it out for yourself…What do you think?

Dirty Boy Video president Andy Fine explained his company’s feelings regarding the movement in a letter to Brandon Watts, an original member of the Wall Street occupation.

A  story about Watts losing his virginity while camping in New York City’s Zuccotti Park prompted Fine to offer him cash for the chance to tape his next experience.

“I offer you the opportunity to perform on our website, an opportunity to express yourself and your politics freely and without censor. Working together we can create a sexy, fun platform that inspires you, be that with other actors, actresses or both. Whether you choose to work with us or not, I salute your dedication and your courage,” Fine said in his letter to Watts.

Watts did not appear in the Dirty Boy Video production in Oakland.  Too bad, cause he’s kinda cute (RIGHT).  Still…Can’t wait for the porn to come out. I think it kinda plays int several of y fantasies. Who wouldn’t want to get it on in a tent?

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Ahhhhh, lazy Sunday.

After a long Friday (sometimes, starting on Thursday) and Saturday of partying, dancing, necking, and general glamorous gay happenings…On Sunday, I tend to cuddle up on the coach with take-out and my iPad.  Depending how long (wink-wink) the weekend has been, I might go to brunch.  But always, ALWAYS, I use the day to catch-up with celebrity gossip, news, and political updates. (I love the McLaughlin Group)

So to help all of you have a super Lazy Sunday, I’ve culled the best internet sites in the world for the most important GAY news!

Unless you were live under a ROCK, then you’ve heard about the terrible fire on Fire Island. Here is some of New York’s biggest homosexuals remembering all their drug-induced fun…

Lady Gaga is getting another word from the gays. Ho-hum…

Shane Stevens: He’s gay! He’s a country & western singer! He’s got a reality show! Who’s watching?

A bill that will give gay federal workers full benefits has been reintroduced! Hooray!

Yvonne “Miss Dixie” Fasnacht, the quirky owner of two infamous New Orleans gay bars died last Sunday at 101.

So there you go my little gay darlings!  Some juicy, informative, and need-to-know news for you this lovely Sunday!  Now if that is also not enough to keep you stimulated, hop onto your phone and cruise Gay Live Network!  Interact with people! Find a boy to snuggle with tonight!

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Boy, do I feel bad for Justin Bieber’s PR team. Their pussies must be sore from all the media-whoring the kid is going through right now. Honestly, every day Bieb’s is in the news.

First he’s accused of fathering a child. (Did his testicles even drop yet?)

Then dyke country-singer K.D. Lang says he looks like a lesbian and dubs him “hot as shit.”  (Let that one sink in for a few minutes….Disturbing, right?)

Now, The Sun, Britian’s premier tabloid, is reporting that Biebs was partying it up with the gays!.

The UK rag claims after winning two awards at the MTV EMAs on Sunday night, Bieber partied at Kremlin, “Europe’s Hottest Gay Venue,”, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  DUM-DUM-DUM!  Here is what an inside source whispered:

“Justin managed to shake off the thousands of fans who were following him around the city… He went to the official MTV party at the Europa hotel with his girlfriend Selena Gomez before being smuggled out in secret… The Beliebers were left waiting outside the front of the hotel hoping for a glimpse but he slipped through a side entrance used for kitchen deliveries and later left the same way.”

Honestly, this is great. I love love love love when straighties roam into gay bars. Sure, it makes me a little anxious and jealous – but it is great to see that gay acceptance has grown so much that celebs can shake off the shackles and get down with the homos.  Biebs certainly wouldn’t be the first straight male celeb to have a little fun at a gay bar. My two biggest celeb crushes, Zac Efron and Prince Harry, have also partied in gay joints.  Bring on the straights!  Hope they get a little curious!

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The city of Holyoke, Massachusetts has elected a 22 year old as Mayor! Kid can barely drink and now he is in charge of the whole show!

Even more fun, he’s not just 22, he’s also a big GAY mayor. TWINK POLITICIAN!

Alex Morse graduated from Brown University in May of this year.  Most grads are struggling to find a job, find a solution to their binge drinking problem, or simply find a way to pay back enormous student loans.  Not Morse!  This kid is doing big boy stuff! He is running a freaking city!

FYI: Holyoake is the birthplace of volleyball!  Which, is pretty gay in itself!  It is also a town of about 40K peeps.  It’s crime rate is above the national average (GET TO THAT MAYOR MORSE!) and is the birthplace of Hal Holbrook.  I always thought Hal Holbrook was southern!

Morse previously spent three years as a member of the Massachussett’s Governor’s LGBT Commission. He also spent three years during college working for Democratic US Rep. David N. Cicilline of Rhode Island.  What a busy little gay beaver Alex was!  He was destined to be Mayor!

“This is an incredible moment, not just for the campaign, but for the city of Holyoke,’’ Morse told supporters last night. “This campaign has been an incredible journey, and this is just the beginning.’’

Morse told cheering supporters (and a mob of drag queens and circuit boys) he wants to make all of the city’s neighborhoods safe for residents, to create “good, healthy jobs”, to restore civic pride, and to personally investigate EVERY Grindr hotspot in Holyoke for fleas and ticks.  (Okay, I made the last one up….)

“We need to make sure that no matter when, no matter where we live, no matter what language we speak, no matter what we look like – we are always proud to call Holyoke home,’’ he said.  Or did he say HO-MO?  Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Congrats to Alex Morse, America’s youngest gay mayor. You go boy!

(Via The Boston Globe)