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Hello and welcome to the first edition of Bent for 2012, we hope you enjoy the jam-packed pages of interviews, reviews, features, stories, travel and everything else we can cram into the magazine to ease you gently into the New Year.


Our cover star is Samuel Kneen, you may not have heard of him before but he recently won the Mr Gay UK title. Bent was at the final to see the 22 year-old hairdresser from Cardiff flex his pecs and win over both the crowd and the panel of judges. We have the first interview with this new light on the gay scene and some images from a fantastic photo-shoot at a spa.


For over 45 years, the wonderful Peter Tatchell has campaigned for social justice. In all that time he has be threatened and even assaulted for his beliefs and now, as he approaches his 60th birthday, we ask him about the highs and lows of a career that has seen him chastised, ridiculed and despised by some - many of whom were the very people he has tried to help.


We speak to out and proud American singer Moses about who his inspirations are, while back in the UK we have an interview with Sheffield’s Laura Steel about playing huge festivals and gay pride events.


We catch up with Lee and Ian from STEPS and find out how all this nostalgia is affecting them all and our man ‘tellin stories’ Terry George, takes us on a trip to ‘meet’ Rihanna and his extraordinary visit to the Royal Variety Performance.


Plus all the latest reviews and the opportunity to win some great DVDs and underwear.


So, as we say to anyone who’ll listen: You don’t have to be Bent… but it’s a great place to start.



All Articles

Stonewall Welcomes Derby Gay-Hate Guilty Verdict News: Stonewall Welcomes Derby Gay-Hate Guilty Verdict

Stonewall today welcomed the conviction of three men in Derby for stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation. The men found guilty of the offence following a trial at Derby Crown Court, having distributed leaflets featuring a catalogue of threatening material in July 2010. Stonewall have welcomed the verdict Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief... [Read more of this review]

14 Year Old Commits Suicide After Being Bullied For Being Gay News: 14 Year Old Commits Suicide After Being Bullied For Being Gay

A teenage boy has committed suicide after, what is parents claimed have been, 12 months of bullying due to being gay. Phillip Parker, 14, is reported to have hanged himself last Friday in the bathroom of his foster parent’s home in Gordonsville, Tennessee. The boy also left a note which said: ‘Please help me mom.’ Phillip Parker, just 14 years... [Read more of this review]

Professional Footballer Fined £6000 After Gay Jibe At Corrie Star News: Professional Footballer Fined £6000 After Gay Jibe At Corrie Star

A professional footballer has been fined £6000 by the Football Association after Tweeting homophobic comments about Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton. Ball has now been released from his contract at Leicester City Michael Ball, who plays for Leicester City, admitted to the charge of bringing the game into disrepute and was given the biggest ever... [Read more of this review]

Hospital Refuses To Allow Woman To Visit Girlfriend After Car Crash News: Hospital Refuses To Allow Woman To Visit Girlfriend After Car Crash

A woman has claimed that hospital staff refused to allow her to see her girlfriend who had been admitted after a car crash. Linda Cole was driving in the car behind that of her partner Kat Wilderotter in November last year and witnessed Wilderotter suffer an epileptic fit before crashing into a telegraph pole. Washington Adventist Hospital However,... [Read more of this review]

Marcus Collins Announces Debut Single News: Marcus Collins Announces Debut Single

Gay X Factor star Marcus Collins will release a cover of the track ‘Seven Nation Army,’ by The White Stripes, as his debut single. Collins was the runner up in X Factor last year The star, who came second in the TV talent show behind girlband ‘Little Mix’ at the end of last year, has apparently added his own stamp to the song, making it more... [Read more of this review]

Welsh Lesbian Choir Ready To Tackle Homophobia News: Welsh Lesbian Choir Ready To Tackle Homophobia

Wales’ first all-lesbian choir are aiming to break down stigmas around homosexuality and make an impact with their music. Diane Wright and Hayley Baldwin have high hopes for the choir Two couples in Cardiff decided to set up South Wales Gay Women’s Choir, also known as ‘Lez Sing,’ after the success of the South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus Conductor... [Read more of this review]

Glee Star To Gain Award For Promoting LGBT Rights News: Glee Star To Gain Award For Promoting LGBT Rights

Glee star Jane Lynch will be given an award by a leading lesbian rights organisation for her work in promoting gay rights, it has been announced. Lynch Plays Sue Sylvester In The Show Lynch, who plays cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on the show, is to be honoured at the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ 35th anniversary award for “using her fame... [Read more of this review]

Documentary To Look At Homophobia In Football News: Documentary To Look At Homophobia In Football

A new documentary will tackle the issue of homosexuality in British football and the reasons why no players have come out since Justin Fashanu, who suffered abuse after revealing that he was gay in the early 1990s. The documentary will look at the reasons no players have come out since Justin Fashanu The BBC programme, rresented by Fashanu’s niece... [Read more of this review]

Three Guilty Over ‘Gay Hate’ Leaflets News: Three Guilty Over ‘Gay Hate’ Leaflets

Three Muslim men from Derby have been found guilty of stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation after distributing a leaflet that said Islam called for anyone caught committing homosexuality to be executed. Kabir Ahmed and the two other men were found guilty Ihjaz Ali, Kabir Ahmed and Razwan Javed handed out the pamphlet, called The Death... [Read more of this review]

Gaga’s Anti-Bullying Charity Launches Next Month News: Gaga’s Anti-Bullying Charity Launches Next Month

Lady Gaga will officially launch her own charity next month to combat anti-gay-bullying and encourage self-confidence among gay teens, it has been announced. The Born This Way Foundation launches at the end of next month The Born This Way Foundation will launch on 29 February at Harvard University, and will be run by the singer and her mother Cynthia... [Read more of this review]

LGF Launch Pride In Practice News: LGF Launch Pride In Practice

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (The LGF) and NHS North West, are building on the success of their GP’s Surgeries project, with the launch of Pride in Practice – a new patient standard for excellence in lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) healthcare – on February 14th. Pride In Practice Launched The launch event takes place at The Lesbian & Gay... [Read more of this review]

Yorkshire BNP Candidate Convicted Of Racism News: Yorkshire BNP Candidate Convicted Of Racism

A former candidate for the British National Party (BNP) was convicted on the charge of racial abuse at Dewsbury Magistrates Court last week, according to the website Hope Not Hate. David Huntingdon The site stated that Huntingdon was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £85.00 after being found guilty of using threatening,... [Read more of this review]

Mr Gay UK Winner To Donate Some Of His Prize To Leading HIV/AIDS Charity News: Mr Gay UK Winner To Donate Some Of His Prize To Leading HIV/AIDS Charity

Mr Gay UK winner Samuel Kneen has pledged to give some of his winnings from the competition to the Terrance Higgins Trust. Kneen, 22, from Cardiff took the £2000 prize after winning the beauty contest for gay men, last year and after seeing a close friend be affected by HIV he feels very strongly about supporting the leading HIV/AIDS charity. He said:... [Read more of this review]

Madonna Reveals Admiration For Lady Gaga News: Madonna Reveals Admiration For Lady Gaga

Madonna praised fellow pop star Lady Gaga last night. Madonna's 12th studio album, MDNA, is due out later this year In an interview with BBC chat show host Graham Norton the ‘Material Girl’ star revealed her admiration for the ‘Born This Way’ singer, saying that she approves of the way Gaga interacts with her audience and recognising some... [Read more of this review]

Gay Dean To Sue Church Of England News: Gay Dean To Sue Church Of England

Britain’s most senior openly gay cleric has threatened to sue the Church of England unless it promotes him to Bishop. Dr John is currently in a celibate civil partnership The Very Rev Jeffrey John, currently the Dean of St Albans, has twice been overlooked to become a bishop because of his sexuality. The 58-year-old, was forced to give up his appointment... [Read more of this review]

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