Greta Hall once homed poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. Coleridge himself said, ‘I question if there be a room in England which commands a view of mountains and lakes and woods superior to that in which I am now writing’. Southey described the house, the grounds and, most importantly, the views as comprising ‘Perhaps the finest single spot in England’. Visit Britain have agreed with the two poets and awarded Greta Hall a four-star rating in 2009.

The Romantics were known not just for their writing but also for their decadence, their thirst for life, and their various states of inebriation. In recognition of this illustrious past, Coleridge’s Study has been fitted with a grand opium bed, shipped in from Hong Kong. In-keeping with the decadent theme, there are numerous Eastern flourishes throughout the accommodation, which adds rich texture to the historical and literary character. The Study benefits from inspiring views of the valleys and nearby Skiddaw, and is just one of three rooms that comprise the vast Coleridge Wing (which sleeps up to six people).

The Old Wash House is a self-contained unit that sleeps two in a double bed. It includes its own kitchen and sitting room, bathroom and parking space. The woodburning stove provides heat through our notorious soggy winters, and makes for a snug and intimate hideaway for couples.

The Coach House sleeps nine to 11 people, in three doubles, a triple and a gallery twin. The Coach House is high above the banks of the River Greta, round the back of Greta Hall, and detached from the main building for extra privacy. It features a giant sitting/dining room and kitchen, with a woodburning stove and an apex ceiling. Both of the ground-floor doubles have en suite bathrooms, while the triple has adult-sized bunkbeds and a single. The Coach House is fully equipped with a toilet and hand basin, washing machine and tumble dryer, and three parking spaces.

The top floor of the Coach House is only bookable two weeks in advance. With room enough for four, the top floor includes a double bedroom, twin gallery bedroom and vast sitting/dining room and kitchen.

All beds come with duck or goose down pillows and all double beds have pure white Egyptian cotton bed linen. Double duvets also have goose down.

For guests who wish for bed and breakfast, there is a standard double bedroom with en suite bathroom in the main house. This curved wing bedroom, with its own magnificent views of Borrowdale Valley, has a four-poster bed, a cast iron roll top bath and window seats. Southey’s Parlour is turned out for breakfast and evening meals, featuring an original wooden fire designed for the house, moved by a later owner, and then returned generations later to be restored to its former glory. Southey’s Parlour makes for a charming place to rest on wet days in front of the open fire.

Guests in the self-catering wings who wish to have bed and breakfast will be treated to freshly baked organic bread and eggs from the local hens and ducks, which they can prepare themselves. All guests also receive homemade cake or biscuits with their complementary welcome pack. Freshly prepared, mostly vegan or veggie meals to share can be prepared for your supper, with a day’s notice. As with the freshly baked items, all the food is locally sourced and organic where possible—and often from their free-range garden. A waiter or waitress can be arranged for celebrations or when you simply want to put your feet up.

Greta Hall takes bookings Saturday to Sunday, with check-in after 4pm and check-out by 10am. Short stay and weekend breaks are subject to availability. Prices range from £315 in the Wash House to £1225 in the Coach House. Christmas rates are considerably higher.
Visit www.gretahall.net for more information.

Taking place Friday, 19th July thru Sunday, 21st July , this year’s festivities will feature 23 thrilling activities from surfing to guided bike rides, beach dodge ball, a burlesque show, a downtown art gallery walk, two pool parties, nighttime dance extravaganzas and The Beach Party, the weekend’s main soak-in-the-sun event with music by DJs Tony Moran and Hector Fonseca. Over 4,000 people attended last summer’s event.   This summer’s Sand Blast Weekend promises to be even bigger and wetter!

“Bringing the legendary producer and remixer Tony Moran to headline Saturday afternoon’s The Beach Party has been a goal of ours for years”, said Brad Hurtado, event founder & executive producer, at this morning’s announcement.  “As if that’s not enough, securing the super hot Hector Fonseca to spin the first three hours is a double whammy.”
In fact, Sand Blast Weekend will showcase a slew of the hottest DJ talent playing today including Atlantis Cruise favourite DJ Grind whose popularity has skyrocketed in recent months with over a million downloads of his weekly podcast.  Also featured will be NYC favourites Eddie Martinez, Steve Sidewalk, Nando, Corey Craig, James Anthony, Stacy, Mick Hale and Susan Levine.
What makes Sand Blast Weekend different from other gay party weekends is that in addition to its high-energy dance parties, Sand Blast offers many relaxing activities to enjoy. 

“Sand Blast is about discovering Asbury Park as a gay-friendly resort community and making it your own,” explains Hurtado. “We want our guests to go off and explore the entire town and boardwalk and enjoy all that this Jewel on the Jersey Shore has to offer. It’s not just a place to come once a year; it’s a destination we hope guests return to again and again. We like to think of Sand Blast Weekend as the Atlantis Cruise of circuit parties, because, like Atlantis, in addition to our roster of main party events, we have tons of fun activities to offer our guests all weekend.”

The gay community began pilgrimaging to Asbury Park in 1999 and 2000. At the time, the city was in terrible condition with an abandoned mile-long boardwalk, a downtown with just a handful of stores open amidst block after block of boarded up storefronts and a residential neighborhood packed with turn-of-the-century Victorian houses in falling down condition. A small handful of NYC gays, who’d recently taken the plunge and bought a weekend house, decided to throw a summer party and invite their friends to come see the stunning beach and gorgeous old houses a few blocks from the ocean that were selling for under $100,000. They called the weekend Road Trip Asbury Park.

The first event was held in 2000 at a local gay nightclub with about 100 guests in attendance.  It was considered a great success at the time – even Cyndi Lauper performed.  The following day, locals hosted house parties, picnics and tours of the city showing guests the houses they could snap up for a song.
“Right from the beginning we knew we had to make it an annual event,” remembers Hurtado.   “In the days after that first weekend our local realtors began fielding calls from gays and lesbians looking for weekend homes.  We immediately began planning for our next year’s event.”
The second summer, Hurtado and party organizers added a Friday night mixer at the only bar on the beach. About 250 people attended the weekend, including RuPaul who came for the Saturday night party.  Soon, more gay homeowners began weekending in Asbury Park.  By 2007, Asbury Park had a gay mayor, a gay school board president and half the city council was gay! Together they helped beautify the city and bring new life and businesses to town.
Meanwhile, each year more events and activities were added to Road Trip Asbury Park. In 2008, against the advice of the rest of the volunteer team, Brad Hurtado decided to launch a circuit-style daytime dance on the beach. No one else wanted to accept the burden and expense of such a large party so Hurtado took the financial risk on himself, taking out an equity line of credit on his Asbury Park home. His partner, Sean, named the party Sand Blast.
It was a hit from the start and soon became the marquee event of the weekend.  By 2010, the weekend’s name was officially changed to Sand Blast and The Beach Party propelled the weekend into new heights of popularity.
“I’ve learned through the years that our weekend’s growth depends on ensuring that our guests’ experiences are smooth and trouble free,” explains Hurtado. “They come to the beach to escape the work week’s drama for fun and relaxation in the sun.  We make sure they have everything they need to make their beach weekend a blast.”
Last year’s Sand Blast attracted over 4,000 attendees. It also saw the addition of two Saturday night parties: The DEEP BLUE Dance Party and an underwear party hosted by XTube’s favorite couple, The Maverick Men. Both events proved to be hugely successful and will be returning for this summer’s weekend with DJ Grind headlining URGE: The Underwear Party and hot circuit star DJ Phil B headlining DEEP BLUE with a killer opening set by DJ Nina Flowers from TV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race.
In addition to offering a feast for the ears, organizers are working overtime to provide a feast for the eyes this year.  Visual entertainments include Olympic-caliber trampoline athletes at Saturday’s Beach Party, and Team New York Aquatic’s sexy gay water polo crew performing a ten-minute scrimmage and an in-pool synchronized swimming show during Sunday’s Riptide Pool Party.
Luckily for Asbury Park, the city avoided the devastation from this past winter’s Hurricane Sandy.  Whether due to its slightly higher elevation or just the luck of where the storm hit, the mile long boardwalk suffered only two damaged spots that have already been repaired. Asbury Park’s quirky shopping district and the magnificent Victorian residential neighborhoods were also unscathed. With so many other beach towns devastated by Sandy, it’s predicted this summer will be one of the biggest and busiest summers in Asbury Park, making it the best time ever to experience Sand Blast Weekend.

Weekend passes start at $165. The Saturday-only pass is $110 and the Sand Blast Women’s Pass is $85. The elegant Berkeley Oceanfront is the host hotel for Sand Blast Weekend. 3-night super saver rates start at $240 per night.  2–night  stays start at $289 per night.
For more information on SAND BLAST WEEKEND, visit www.SandBlastWeekend.com

In just 2 years Prague Pride has grown into the biggest LGBT festival of the former communist countries of central and eastern Europe, with 40.000 visitors in 2012.

It has shown that Prague is the most liberal capital of the region, so it was no surprise when Lonely Planet listed Prague among the top 10 of friendliest cities for gays and that Prague Pride has recently been listed among Europe’s 10 best prides on gaycities.com . Prague Pride is proud to act as an exemplary beacon of openness and tolerance for its neighbours in the region.

This year, Prague Pride will be held from the 12th to 18th August, with the parade and following concert on Saturday the17th. The week will be filled with a wide range of cutting-edge events to suit everybody. It will consist of 7 days filled with entertainment, concerts, exhibitions, theatre, debates and much more, at various attractive locations in the beautiful Czech capital. Several parties will cater the different tastes of the LGBT community but you ca expect great entertainment from international stars and DJs such as Danny Verde.

The parade will lead through Prague’s historical centre at the end of which a free concert and information market will be held. The concert will have a DJ stage as well as a bigger podium where several Czech and foreign artists will perform, including Hercules and Love Affair sound system from New York.
For the first time there will also be a Pride Village running all week next to the National Theatre. It will function as an information centre as well as a place where exhibitions, performances and events will be organised.

The theme of Prague Pride 2013 is ‘Let our colours out’ and will focus on coming-out in all its facets.  The program will reflect this theme in various ways, including an exhibition on coming-out in different environments & a debate on coming-out in politics.
Although it may seem passé for many western Europeans, coming-out in the Czech Republic and further East, especially publicly or in the workplace is still relatively rare.
“The aim of the campaign is to make general public realize that process of coming-out is complex and needs to be supported and to make LGBT people realize that it is worth it to live an honest life,” says the director of the festival Czeslaw Walek.

www.praguepride.cz               www.facebook.com/prideprague
Photos: Martin Goss/Prague pride

It is accompanied by two web trails (britishmuseum.org/samesexdesireandgenderidentity), and there will be a lecture at the British Museum on the 28th June to celebrate the launch. Here are six facts from the book:

1 The oldest chat up line in human history is between men. Same-sex desire seems to have been part of human experience from the earliest recorded times. In a poem from ancient Egypt, around 1800 BC, one male god tries to seduce another by saying ‘What a lovely backside you have!’ (neferwi-pehwi-ki). Outside poetry, no male-male couples are known from Ancient Egypt: when two men are buried together, it seems that they are twins not lovers, as in this funerary inscription from 1325 BC.

2 Visitor surveys for a blockbuster exhibition on the roman emperor Hadrian in 2008 suggested that surprisingly few people knew that Hadrian preferred men. His grief for his young lover Antinous (who drowned in the Nile in 130 AD) was extreme, and he commemorated his love in huge numbers of statues, making Antinous into a god.  His life inspired Marguerite Yourcenar’s great novel Memoirs of Hadrian (1951), which led to her being the first woman ever elected to the French Academy  – despite the fact she’d taken American citizenship so she could live with her partner Grace Frick in North America.

3 The ‘Warren Cup’ is surprisingly small but shows scenes of men making love. Made in the Roman Empire around 1BC-10 AD, it is now known after its modern owner, the American art collector Edward Perry Warren (1860–1928). He lived with his friend (and probably lover) John Marshall in Lewes in Sussex, and he referred to the cup as the ‘Holy Grail’. In 1999 it was finally acquired by the British Museum, who had not purchased it earlier in the 1950s when ‘homosexuality’ was still illegal in Britain. It has been on public display ever since for everyone to see, free.

4 Many societies in the eastern Pacific or Polynesia accepted same-sex acts, much to the consternation of 18 the century European explorers. In Hawaii, young masculine men called aikane would have sex with the king. A surgeon on Captain Cook’s ship The Discovery, noted in 1779 with some surprise that ‘it is an office that is esteemed honourable among them & they have frequently asked us on seeing a handsome young fellow if he was not an [aikane] to some of us’. This highly stylised treasure box from New Zealand includes a scene of oral sex.

5 The British Museum has been a stage for gay love. Its displays of Greek and Roman statues have helped shaped modern gay identity. In E. M. Forster’s gay novel Maurice, a Cambridge graduate finds love with a gamekeeper, and the turning point takes place in the galleries of the British Museum. Here the two men finally realise they love each other, as rough trade turns into romance. The book was filmed by Merchant Ivory Productions in 1987 with a stellar cast and using the original locations in the galleries:  gay romance on a grand scale, and with a happy ending.

6 The British Museum has objects about modern sexuality as well as ancient. Its collections of badges include ones for LGBT rights, representing over four decades and a wide range of issues. Some are serious, and some wittily caricature stereotypes about gay identity, such as the badge by the cartoonist Kate Charlesworth. And the Museum has other historic links with the struggle for equal rights: Lord Wolfenden, whose 1957 recommended the decriminalization of homosexuality, was also a director of the British Museum in the 1970s.

A Little Gay History
Paperback £9.99    available from:   www.britishmuseumshoponline.org

He has a fair selection of experiences to share with his readers, from serving in Southern Iraq, to being hospitalised in a homophobic beating, to helping at the 7/7 bombings and serving at the royal wedding. The headline grabbing part of the book deals with a problem that happened when he was serving in Canada with Price Harry who was one of his commanding officers. After an incident, there was a threat of homophobic violence against Wharton who reported it to his superior officer Prince Harry. He immediately made a point of saying he wasn’t going to put up with that sort of thing and went and spoke to the other soldiers involved. The threat may have still been there but no violence took place thanks to Harry’s determination to stop this kind of bullying.

Though this may be the link to a wider readership, the book itself is full of James’s full-on stories of what it is like to serve in the military when you are an out and proud gay man. He tells of how attitudes have changed in the 10 years he committed to army life and how his ‘high gay visibility’ has helped the army to begin to address institutionalised homophobia.

Stephen Fry says of the book “A wonderful, stirring and thrilling read. I laughed, wept and winced”

I am sure you will have a similar reaction.

£16.99              www.bitebackpublishing.com

      Photographer: Louise Roberts.

 There’s always been a flamboyant air around Bestival. With a cheeky touch of chi-chi style and a knowingly arched brow, they’ve played host, over the years, to some of the most outrageous turns around, from the finest alternative cabaret to some deliciously debauched club action.

So, with their spectacular 10th birthday fast approaching from 5th-8th September, they’ve lined up the biggest and the very best array of ostentatious entertainment you’re ever likely to see, as Bestival goes cruising!

‘Bestival is ten years old this year and I’d like to think over the last decade of dancing at our beautiful festival that we’ve been one of the most open minded festivals in the world welcoming all, it sure feels like that at 3am on a Saturday morning. This year we’ve teamed up with some of the UK’s most dazzling trailblazers to bring some outrageous and uninhibited parties to the lower decks of HMS Bestival. Stand by for a cast of freaky girls and hot sailor boys stoking the fires as we steam towards the dawn… See you at the bar, boys!’ – Rob da Bank

‘My brief was to help get the gays to the island and this year Bestival will be flying the (rainbow) flag with pride. I’m really excited to be bringing four productions to Bestival this year, including the debut of ‘Drag’ – with local drag performers, my solo show Scottee and for the second year running my variety show ‘Camp’ and not to forget the infamous ‘Room Service’. – Scottee

That’s right, Room Service, London and New York’s hottest gay party is coming to the brand new venue, The Port, to hit you hard and deep with a festival premier that’s exclusive to Bestival 2013! There will be a soundtrack of killer underground house beats and aural stimulation from GoGo boys, plus some obligatory tranny madness thrown in for good measure, bringing Soho and the Meatpacking District to the Isle of Wight.  Room Service takes you DOWNtown and keeps you UP all night with DJ’s Jodie Harsh, Kris Di Angelis and Severino. This is a deluxe gay dance party and a downright naughty secret. You want to know why this night is so deliciously infamous? Come and find out at the Port on Friday…

‘I can’t wait to get to Bestival, and we’re shipping the whole Room Service troupe from Soho to the Isle of Wight. Prepare for hot boys, gogo dancer action and crazy tranny madness set to a soundtrack of underground house. That’s my kind of party!’ – Jodie Harsh

Also celebrating a joyous tenth anniversary, we’re very pleased indeed to welcome back the fabulous Horse Meat Disco. A disco behemoth beyond compare it’s the queer party for everyone, where they’ll be slipping a sensuous selection of Italo disco, house, oddities and punk funk onto the sound-system for your delectation. Inspired by the music and inclusive ethos of New York’s heady club scene in the 80s & 90s, the collective has garnered a unique reputation for throwing amazing parties with unmatchable sets. The quartet of DJs each mixes their own individual interpretations of the disco sound with a soundtrack that marries their expertise and shared knowledge and experience in the field. Expect all manner of dancefloor movers.

photo: dnnsn.com

But that’s not all, after last year’s spectacular debut, Bestival’s glorious adventure-land The Grand Palace of Entertainment is back!  So leave your inhibitions at the door and crank up the fun factor…On the outside, it’s a beautifully decorated traditional fairground facade. On the inside, it’s a rainbow coloured pleasure-seeking, twisted, hot-house of fun.

In the daytime, masters of entertainment Massive in China will be presenting an eclectic and intriguing selection of comedy, cabaret, games, foot-stomping music, plus a generous sprinkling of other oddities and spectacles.

It’s going to be a colourful ride, friends. See you in wonderland!
www.beastival.com

Now, I felt stupidly guilty about wasting so much money on stuff I didn’t need or want. I saw a short-term solution to my problems when I ‘borrowed’ some money from the works account. After all, I was a trusted employee and had access to all manner of finances within the company and had convinced myself I could pay it back before anyone noticed. Unfortunately, for me it was at a time when the firm was being audited and the boss re-checked the company accounts. The ‘missing’ amount was so obvious and so was the culprit. Consequently, to save a long process of denial I admitted what I’d done and the boss said he had no options but to fire me and call the police. I asked if there wasn’t an alternative as I was up to my eyes in debt and I couldn’t see another employer giving me a job if his references said that I’d stolen money from the company. I was desperate to keep my job and begged him, no I pleaded with him, to come up with an alternative to being sacked.

Mr. Phanasious thought for a while and said there was an alternative… indeed, an old-fashioned cure for what I’d done. He said he was prepared not to fire me if I agreed to his suggestion. The money was to be paid back instantly and if I couldn’t do that, my wage would be trimmed by 50% until the money was recovered. I agreed, as I knew that if he’d gone to the police I might have ended up with a record or even worse, sent to prison. I thanked him for being so understanding but he said that there was more. I was unbelievably relieved I could keep my job so I agreed that I’d do anything before knowing what the conditions were. He was very stern when he informed me that the only reason he wouldn’t go to the police was on the condition that I had to take six strokes with a cane across my bare bottom every night after work until the debt was paid. I was shocked. Even at school, I’d never received corporal punishment, my parents had never agreed with that form of chastisement either but now… well, I had no option, if this was the price I had to pay for my stupidity. Besides, when the alternative could mean prison, and what was said to go on in such places, I was probably getting off fairly easily.

I reluctantly agreed and hung around the office until everyone except Mr. Phanasious had left for the night. Once alone in his office he locked the door and told me to strip to just my underwear. I was nervous and apprehensive of what was about to happen. My Greek boss was a great deal bigger than me; six feet tall, hirsute and a body that any professional rugby player would be proud of… even if he was well into his 50s. He looked quite strong and more than capable of taking care of himself if anyone caused him any trouble. I was scared of what this powerfully built man could inflict on my body but, while almost naked and held in this older man’s gaze, strangely, I began to get aroused. He walked up behind me carrying a cane he’d retrieved from a cupboard, pulled my y-fronts down to my knees, and began to fondle my arse, cock and balls. I immediately got even harder and a strange thrill ran through my body. He then ordered me to bend over the end of the desk and shoved a finger up my unprotected hole. As I’ve said Mr. Phanasious is a big, tough, no-nonsense type of boss, I was at his mercy, and now, in this passive and vulnerable position, it was turning me on. Then I felt the first sting as he bought the cane down across my arse cheeks. I screamed blue murder as I hadn’t expected it to hurt so much or to be delivered with such force. After six cruel agonizing swats, which brought tears to my eyes, he told me my night’s punishment had only just begun. I was ordered to remain bent over the desk as he undid his own trousers and pulled out his thick Greek cock. With my arse on fire, he was quick to follow through with the second part of my punishment… although to be honest… I began to appreciate this version of my boss’s rough justice.

It’s now the third month of my sentence and I seem to have hardly paid off any of my debt… but the punishment and sex continues. Bizarrely, I’m beginning to love being the sex slave of this hulking brute of a man. Even though the punishment and sex are both painful I feel a connection, which of course may well be just in my head. His dick is huge and he shags with a ferocity and focus that always leaves me filled and sore but I appreciate the fact that he has taken the time to personally deal with my transgressions. In fact I’d say my whole personality and work performance has improved, although I no longer deal with any actual money these days, my concentration level and productivity have certainly increased. On payday each month my salary is docked the agreed amount but with interest on my ‘loan’, and the way things are going, I might never get to pay off my debt.
Photo: Courtesy Tumblr

Photo: Graham James.

Chocolate ‘n cheese, mountain ‘n lake, money ‘n men: Adrian Gillan is far from neutral about the sporty summer outdoors in gorgeous Switzerland, on a tailor-made all-action adventure!

Bored of the beach? Done with using your holiday to merely lie back, pig out and get drunk?

If so, then the invigorating glories of Switzerland most naturally await! And the Switzerland Travel Centre (www.stc.co.uk) offers an all-year-round programme of rail holidays, city breaks and ski holidays – as well as independent hiking-and-cycling tours during the summer months! It’s on hand to help you build your very own tailor-made holidays to Switzerland via a variety of flights, accommodation, travel passes, individual rail tickets, mountain excursion tickets, scenic trains, Eurostar, TGV and car hire!

Photo: Rob Crabtree

One of the Switzerland Travel Centre’s main providers is SwissTrails (www.swisstrails.ch) – run by charming couple Ruedi and Prisca – which specialises in a wide range of hiking and biking holidays, including essential transfers between various stretches of your gloriously outdoor adventure, along extremely well sign-posted national hike and bike routes.

After all, it’s the great outdoors that makes all those hunky, tummy-tight local guys such Swiss beauties! And – sure – you can still drop into the odd spa, and savour the finest cities, food and wine, en route!

SAMPLE SWISSTRAILS TRIP: BERNESE OBERLAND & GRUYÈRE REGION!

Photo: Rob Crabtree

DAY 1
Fly SWISS to Zürich Airport where you are warmly met by a SwissTrails rep before being whisked, by minibus, to the SwissTrails “Bike & Hike Terminal” where you are briefed about the whole tour, sort out your bike (either traditional touring bike or electronically-assisted ‘e-bike’) and helmet rental, and fuel up on light refreshments before being transferred – bikes, luggage and all – to your true starting point, at Boltigen, amidst the heavenly Bernese Oberland, where the real action begins!

From Boltigen, flex your gears 50km or so down the picture-postcard Simmental Valley – with its gushing River Simme and fairytale chalets – to the water-sports hub of Spiez on the Thunersee lake, past Interlaken, to cute little Iseltwald where you can enjoy dinner and a good night’s rest at the waterside Hotel Strand (www.strandhotel.ch), perched slap-bang on the Brienzersee lake!

DAY 2
Take breakfast and a sunrise skinny dip (optional!) in the Brienzersee’s chilly willy-withering waters, before transferring by minibus to Thun, where – after a brief lesson – you take a “self-guided” 3-hour-long river trip down the sparkling Aare River, from Thun to Bern, in a 3/6-person mini-raft (www.aarebootsvermietung.ch), negotiating the infamous “Uttiger Schnelle” rapid en route! After landing the raft on the outskirts of Bern, hop back onto your bikes – thankfully brought along in said SwissTrails minibus – and make for the wonderful Restaurant Schwellenmätteli (www.schwellenmaetteli.ch), for a spot of lunch on the banks of the river, beneath Bern’s lofty Old Town (www.bern.com). Then, after a quick walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Swiss capital – taking in its medieval shopping colonnades, parliament, clock tower, bear slopes and cathedral – you continue your bike ride, out of Bern, following the River Aare through more gorgeous countryside, to lovely Aarberg, where you dine and overnight at Hotel Krone (www.krone-aarberg.ch), right on the picturesque town square.

DAY 3
Breakfast done, it’s “bye bike, hi hike”, as you transfer by SwissTrails minibus from Aarberg to Schwarzee – for a ½-day hike through the Gruyère Alps, ending with lunch at cute mountain restaurant Ritzlialp (www.ritzli-alp.ch). Then it’s a quick transfer by minibus to the Maison Cailler (www.cailler.ch) traditional Swiss chocolate factory for a highly interactive tour and pretty much as much fresh chocolate as you care to sample! Then: on to the beautiful town of Gruyères for dinner, if you’ve any room left, at the fantastic Restaurant des Remparts (www.remparts-resto.com) on the main square, followed by a restful night at the nearby Hostellerie des Chevaliers (www.chevaliers-gruyeres.ch).

DAY 4
After another hearty hotel breakfast, visit La Maison du Gruyère (www.lamaisondugruyere.ch) dairy to explore all things cheesy, followed by a tour of the medieval town of Gruyères, including its lofty castle and Giger Museum (www.hrgigermuseum.com), dedicated to the tad-raunchy work of this Swiss sci-fi fantasy artist of Alien fame. After a fittingly fondue farewell lunch at the restaurant of the Hotel de la Fleur de Lys (www.hotelfleurdelys.ch), again on the main square, transfer – via the shores of mighty Lake Geneva – to Geneva Airport for a fab SWISS flight back home!

•    SwissTrails offers a wide range of activity packages throughout Switzerland bookable via the Switzerland Travel Centre – prices from around £535 per person based on a 5-day trip, including flights and 3-star accommodation. For more info or to book call 020 7420 4938.
•    For more info on Switzerland and the ‘Outdoor. Swiss made’ product, visit www.MySwitzerland.com/outdoor
•    Other useful sites: www.berneroberland.ch, www.la-gruyere.ch
•    SWISS operates up to 31 daily flights from London Heathrow, London City, Birmingham and Manchester to either Zurich, Geneva or Basel. Fares start from around £98 return, including all taxes. For reservations call 0845 601 0956 or visit: www.swiss.com

After attracting attention from Simon Cowell’s label Syco, Anttix is preparing to smash his way into the charts with the release of his hotly anticipated debut single ‘Tornado’. Described by critics as “a pop smash” and “one of summer’s biggest anthems”, Tornado is attracting attention from across the globe.

This summer, Anttix domination of the gay scene continues with performances at some of the major city Pride events… but just who is this slim cutie with no clothes on?

Me. Haha…I’ve been asked this question so many times. I probably should have thought of an answer by now!

Is he a character or the real you?
He’s the real me for sure! I think I probably get away with more having my Anttix persona, but it’s just me! I’m not some kind of Hannah Montana. Ain’t no one got time for that! Haha.

You seem more than happy to get stripped for the photographer… have you ever had any hang-ups about getting naked?
Umm…haha. I’m always game for a laugh. My most recent topless shoot was “different” for sure. When the photographer asked me to ‘take off my underwear’ under my jeans I knew it was serious.  I just wish I maybe went to the gym or something before having my body printed in magazines. Next time I WILL be buff. Promise.
What was your first job in music?
Depends what you call a job? What I do now is something I’ve always worked towards, and I don’t really see it as a job

What’s the best gig so far?
There’s been so many… recently taking to the stage along side Rita Ora and Connor Maynard at ‘As One in the Park’ event was amazing. I also love smaller gigs, like my current schools tour: the kids are mental. I also loved my first international gig, and since then I’ve been travelling the world, it feels amazing!!

You look set to be playing a host of gay pride events this summer, what are your thoughts on same-sex marriage and public displays of affection?
I think it’s crazy how it’s even an issue to some people! If two people love each other and want to marry then why should it matter what sex they are? I’m a true believer in equality. We need to live in a world where people can be who they want to be. Life is about being happy man! Bring on the gay weddings! Don’t forget my invites! Haha… I’m not really one for public displays of affection really but I guess love is mental so fair play to anyone who wants to display it. I’m a holding hands sorta guy – that’s my limit.

Who would you like to perform with if you got the chance?
BIEBER! Haha…No I’m joking. Wait, I’m not! I’d love to work with loads of people I guess it would depend on the style of track! I get lots of tweets from Conor Maynard fans asking us to work together. I met him backstage recently and he seems like a cool guy for sure.

What is your favourite form of relaxation?
Sleeping. Zzz. I don’t get much of it anymore with all this travelling and gigging so when I do I could sleep for days!

Are you seeing anybody special at the moment?
I see special people everyday. That’s all anyone needs to know. :P

Are you a clubbing or a home boy?
I love doing both. I’m a little bit of a party animal. I am trying to calm down a little though! Sometimes you need a good night in and chill. Get someone over and order way too much munch and put on a good movie!

What constitutes a good night out for you?
Loud music. Space to dance. I also love a good bevvy – I can’t stand watered down drinks. I’m also one of those ‘I LOVE YOU’ drunks. Need I say anymore.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Posting WAY too risky photos on my Instagram/Twitter.  Don’t forget to follow me! ;)

These are some of the Pride events that Anttix has or will be appearing at: 

Gran Canaria Masapolomas,  One in the Park,  Birmingham Pride, Bristol Pride, Leeds Pride, Brighton Pride, Wolverhampton Pride, Cardiff Mardi Gras, Reading Pride, Swansea Pride, London’s Summer Rites Pride, Essex Pride.

Photos: Alex Wightman
www.officialanttix.com

During his speech about being a gay man working in the media, Charlie Condou said: ‘If I’d seen gay role models back in my teens, those years would have been very different. Thank god gay teens today can see dozens of different pictures of gay adulthood, letting them know they can be whoever they want to be – just like their straight friends. It’s not perfect, but we’re getting there.’

During a heartfelt speech about the importance of being a role model, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Morgan said: ‘You can’t be a leader if you can’t be yourself. I had a team, and I couldn’t tell you who was married or much about their lives – I never asked those questions because I didn’t want those questions back. I realised I had to come out, and to show an interest in others if I wanted to lead them.’

Stonewall Head of Workplace Simon Feeke said: ‘People perform better when they can be themselves, and it’s no coincidence that employers who recognise this perform far better than those who don’t. It’s fantastic to see so many great employers taking equality so seriously, and treating it as a major factor in their success.’

Stonewall’s next Workplace Conference is in Cardiff on 8th October. www.stonewallcymru.org.uk

UK audiences are in for a treat this Summer as Australian burlesque heroes Briefs are set to take the nation by storm with the European premiere of their brand new show. Award-winning circus stunts, drag acts, Aussie humour and frivolity collide on stage in Briefs: The Second Coming.

From 21st July the boys embark on a three month UK tour which takes them from The Latitude festival in Suffolk to Cardiff’s Blysh Festival, up to Edinburgh for the largest arts festival in the world and on to London for a stunning finale at the Underbelly Priceless Wonderground in the last week of September.
Brisbane’s Briefs boys started their all-male burlesque production in 2008, and have since toured internationally, accumulated awards and seen star Mark ‘Captain Kidd’ Winmill collect the King of Burlesque crown in Las Vegas.

According to creative producer and performer Fez Faanana, Briefs – The Second Coming will bring out new artists, new acts and even more glitz, glitter and calamity. “We’ve been described as an ‘Aussie Cirque du Soleil meets Ru Paul’s Drag Race’ and that’s fairly accurate.” The show features audience favourites Shivannah and Nadja Cumminatcha with some new and unexpected tricks as well as the award-winning Mark ‘Captain Kidd’ Winmill who takes a turn as a fabulous bird-possessed show boy in his own golden bird bath. “The new disorderly Briefs line up includes the fierce Dallas Dellaforce who brings drag artistry and theatre to a new level, Australian circus stars Ben Lewis and Tom Flanagan from Tom Tom Crew and Circus Oz fame and fresh-faced circus brat Louis Biggs makes his Briefs debut.
“Audiences can expect everything from dog show satire, intimate yo-yo tricks, wind machines, Busby Berkeley-style spectacle and the usual array of serious skills including dancing, tumbling, juggling, acro-balancing, trapeze, hula hooping, lip syncing, skipping and tricks in six-inch heels that will rival the best of strippers!

The band now head out on their first headline tour dates in July this summer, taking in shows at the major UK cities of Birmingham, London and Manchester.

For a bunch of lads rounded up from auditions at inner city schools and estate community groups, they’ve had a whirlwind twelve months as finalists on Britain’s Got Talent, before supporting girl group Little Mix earlier this year and releasing debut single Where Were You?

Watch the ‘Where Were You?’ video here: www.youtube.com/the mend

“You know, we’re just normal lads” says member Jayme Kontzle “We’re not rough and we’re not angels either. We’ve all had a bit of myther, but we’ve found our way out of it because that way of life is not the way to go if you want to achieve anything. We feel privileged to be given this opportunity to do what we love doing most. Singing and writing is what it’s about.”

Out to fix “Broken Britain” the band are four individuals who, unlike most male vocal groups, write all their own material, with denouncements of knife crime and anti-social behaviour featuring heavily in their profound lyrics. Catch them at the following headline dates this year before they start selling out much bigger venues; as the lyrics to one of their songs suggests, they’re on their way From The Bottom To The Top.

‘The Mend’ UK Tour Dates:
July 11 Birmingham Institute
July 12 London Borderline
July 13 Manchester Club Academy
http://www.themend.uk.com

‘Glad to be Gay’.

In the 1970s, at a time when hardly anyone was taking the subject of homosexuality seriously (and positively), Tom, and his band, snarled their way into the UK Top 20 singles chart, with a song that was a defining moment in gay history.

According to the gladtobegay.net website: The song had been written to be performed as a one-off at London’s Gay Pride in August 1976. It was a bitter, snarling assault on the attitude of gay people who’d turn up to gay events wearing the ‘glad to be gay’ badges then in circulation, yet take them off in public, try to pass for straight at home and in the workplace. It accused them of tacitly accepting repression rife in the media, and out on the streets from thugs and the police.

I remember standing in the Leeds Poly (as it was then) concert hall and screaming my lungs hoarse as I sang along with such a liberating piece of music. It was the first time that my partner and I felt able to hold hands in public and not feel threatened. In fact, the song thrilled me so much, I experienced an unexpected shiver run down my spine at the emotion, and release I felt, thanks to this empowering anthem… and Tom.

July sees the 35th anniversary since the first Tom Robinson Band album – Power In The Darkness. To celebrate this, not only is there Anthology 1977-79 box set on EMI being released, but the man himself, leaves the comfort of his Radio 6 studio to perform the album in its entirety on 2nd July at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill, London W11. www.tabernaclew11.com/whats-on

In a recent BBC radio interview he said that he listened back to his earlier material and realised that it “…wasn’t at all bad…  in fact it was pretty good”.

You can be the judge of that as I challenge you to get the album and not sing along to ‘Glad to be Gay’, ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’ or not get emotionally involved with the under-rated, but pretty sublime, ‘Martin’.

While 24% of men strayed, many cheating women in the UK—36% of women surveyed—claim that they have had at least one sexual experience with another woman. But are women in the UK unfaithful with other women because they are “gay” or do they cheat because sex between women is better or more exciting? And do men flirt with other men because… they know they shouldn’t?

When asked: Did you ever cheat on your partner with your own gender?

36% of women and 24% of men said “Yes”, while 43% of women and 35% of men said “No, but they’d dreamed about it.”

The follow-up question of: Why did you cheat on your partner with someone of your gender? 

45% of women and 38% of men said that it was a ‘realization of  a sexual fantasies ‘, while 28% of women and 12% of men thought it was because ‘they were understood’. A surprising 27% of women and a massive 50% of men said it was because they ‘just wanted to try it.’

Asked if they had enjoyed it, 19% of the women surveyed and 31% of men said: ‘Yes… and I would do it again’. Alas, 56% of women and 37% of men said: ‘ Yes… but I will not do it again.’

This Victoria Milan survey was completed by 2439 members in the UK (35% women – 65% men) between the 1st-8th June 2013. VictoriaMilan.co.uk is UK’s controversial infidelity site whose slogan is “Relive the and otherwise attached adults seeking a discreet flirt or real life affair.”

The Liverpool-based trio underline their status as one of the UK’s hottest production outfits as they team up with American Idol star, Kimberley Locke, on vocals, to deliver an uplifting, euphoric track destined to become a summer anthem.
Cahill are Anton Powers, Tim Condran and Scott Rosser. They crashed into the UK charts in 2007 with their first single, ‘Trippin’ On You’, a vocal house classic, playlisted on Radio 1, Galaxy, Kiss FM and more, going on to be played over 30,000 times on UK radio!  The trio continued to hone their skills, delivering huge dancefloor smashes, alongside remixes that read like a who’s who of popular music, including; Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Nicole Scherzinger, Taylor Swift, Emeli Sande, Professor Green, Miley Cyrus, Robbie Williams, Mariah Carey, Paloma Faith the list goes on…
Kimberley Locke was a competitor on the 3rd series of American Idol, gaining huge exposure as she battled her way to third place. Since then she has forged a successful career in music and television in the US. A chance encounter lead to the opportunity to work with Cahill, and Kimberley’s stunning vocal abilities merged seamlessly with Cahill’s studios skills and dancefloor instincts to create something very special. When these artists got together the message was obvious….#FeelTheLove!
‘Feel The Love’ is already enjoying heavy Radio 1 support from the likes of Greg James and Danny Howard, as well as Capital, KISS FM and many more. The track itself kicks off with the euphoric vocal refrain, ‘Feel The Love’, giving an immediate feel-good injection. From then on the quality Cahill production keeps on building the positive dancefloor vibes, with a warm, funked up bassline, pumping beats and uplifting strings; the perfect backdrop for Kimberley’s soaring vocals. Summer has most definitely landed!
The video for ‘Feel The Love’ is the ideal accompaniment to the song; a feel-good video that leaves a smile on your face every time you watch it. It begins with Anton from Cahill writing a message on a post-it note which he leaves crumpled on the floor of a tube train in London. A guy picks it up, reads it and then catches the eye of a beautiful girl. From there, they fall in love and spread the message to Feel The Love across London…. feel the love

https://twitter.com/Cahill_official

https://www.facebook.com/CahillOfficial

England players James Tredwell, Ravi Bopara and Jos Buttler visited Terrence Higgins Trust and The Food Chain in London on Tuesday, while South Africa’s JP Duminy, David Miller, Aaron Phangiso, Farhaan Behardien and assistant coach Russell Domingo visited Terrence Higgins Trust’s offices in Cardiff today.

During both visits, players elected to have rapid HIV tests to help raise awareness for the service that the Trust offers, with Tredwell taking his test in London and Duminy and Miller doing theirs in Cardiff. Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity and offers a wide range of services, including the rapid HIV test.

In Cardiff, the South African players met persons living with HIV in Wales and learned about the stigma that they experience in their everyday life within their communities.

Commenting on the visit today, the 24-year-old Miller said: “I took the rapid HIV test today to help raise awareness and also learn more for myself about my status. Being part of the Proteas squad visiting Terrence Higgins Trust in Cardiff today, with some media accompanying us, hopefully we’ve managed to raise awareness of HIV and how easy it is to get tested.

“As group we spoke a lot and learnt about what to do and what not to do and ultimately to be loving and supporting to persons living with HIV. I was very surprised to hear how much persons living with HIV in Wales are suffering with stigma, we in South Africa have a similar issue but it is improving. Today has been a real eye-opener and reality check for all of us.”

Duminy added after he had done his rapid HIV test: “I think it’s important for all of us to know our status, going forward you might meet different people in your life that you are sexually active with and I think it’s important for them to know their status as well. I think it does put your mind at ease if you do take the test, so I definitely recommend it.

“It was very interesting today, just to sit and hear what these people go through on a day to day basis and all the discrimination that they face, the stigma that is shown against HIV and AIDS is pretty dreadful.

“I guess us being here is creating some awareness around the stigma of HIV and AIDS is not that bad, you’re not, for example, going to get the virus by swimming in a pool next to someone, understanding that is really important.”

At the London visit the England players had the opportunity to meet persons living with HIV and get the facts that surround the disease, and learned how to protect themselves and others whether seropositive or negative.

The cricketers also spent time visiting The Food Chain kitchen where meals are prepared every week by volunteers for people living with HIV in London who are struggling to access the food they need to stay well. The players were treated to some healthy snacks and learned more about the importance of good nutrition for people living with HIV from the charity who also provide dietetic advice, recipes and cookery classes.

Finally, the players in London also visited THT Direct, Terrence Higgins Trust’s telephone support centre which Bopara found particularly interesting: “It was a good learning experience to visit Terrence Higgins Trust and The Food Chain as part of the ICC THINK WISE initiative, especially talking to the team at THT Direct who deal with all sorts of phone calls about HIV including calls from persons living with HIV or people who want to know their status or who are having problems in the work place because of their status. They help them get the facts, which is what this is all about.”

To find out more visit www.icc-cricket.com

On 7th June, a record-breaking 100,000 people from Israel and worldwide took part in the annual Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade transforming the city into a colourful street party,  highlighted with a week of Gay Pride activities.

The festivities began at Gan Meir Park in central Tel Aviv and included music performances, various stalls and welcome speeches from Ron Huldai the Mayor of Tel Aviv and several government ministers.

Thousands of flag-waving supporters then lined the streets for the parade, which featured a long procession of floats carrying DJs from local gay clubs and ended with a beach party at Gordon Beach hosted by Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli.

Following their wedding ceremony, the first gay couple to marry in France also went Tel Aviv for their honeymoon. Vincent Autin and his partner Bruno Boileau said: “France has voted for the law of love. For us it’s very important to be a bridge, especially here in the Middle East, so that what’s happened in France, and the way we are received and embraced here, can become an example for the rest of the Middle East.”

Mayor Ron Huidai made a speech saying he was “proud that Tel Aviv is the most gay-friendly city in the world.”

Named Best Gay City in a survey by GayCities in 2011, Tel Aviv is known for its liberal atmosphere, nightlife and urban beaches and this year’s parade marks 20 years since the gay community first launched activities in the city.

The 2014 Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade will take place on 13 June 2014, with the events for Gay Pride Week taking place from 8-14 June 2014.

For more information about Israel, please visit www.thinkisrael.com

Tonight, it was slightly different as all the dancers were being sponsored by an underwear company. PUMP had just launched their latest range and had taken over the club to help promote their new colourful campaign. He wore the sexiest and slinkiest of briefs as he bounced around, whilst sweat just flowed in streams down his slim but well developed frame. His sexy, PUMP jock almost transparent from the moisture collected in the material as he energetically gyrated in that throbbing light-cocoon he seemed to be confined in. Beams of flashing light pin-pointed other dancers spaced around the club, each looking stunning in their colourful and distinctive briefs… but, all eyes were on him.  When those beams tracked across the crowd and blazed onto the undoubted star performer everyone was totally engrossed in his spinning, flexing, rhythmic dance. He looked just beautiful… I mean, really beautiful… not a term I would normally use about another guy but on this occasion I can’t think of a better description. Of course I was just one of a hundred or so other guys who were besotted by what they saw. That sweaty, smooth body sensuously swirling, dipping, clapping and spinning in time to the pulsating beat that reverberated through everyone’s body was just mesmerising. His unbelievably cute bum revealed for all to admire was just inches away from my face as I struggled to get ever nearer to this vision, this beautiful dancer.
I bet PUMP got many new fans that night… but I got the guy in those pants.

Get you PUMP at: pump

Based on the novel by Scott Heim, Mysterious Skin is a dramatic adaptation that has crossed over to the UK for the first time. Playwright Prince Gomolvilas is notoriously protective of his adaptation, which he feels should only be performed if performed right. It was Vertigo Theatre who finally managed to convince Gomolvilas to let the play be staged in the UK. His faith in this little theatre company from Manchester is not in vain, and once again Vertigo prove they can deliver the goods like any of the theatre heavyweights.

Performed at the fabulous, quaint but earnest Three Minute Theatre in Manchester, the producton cleverly dispenses with big sets and high-tech for a modest, intimate approach. This keeps the focus on the young cast, whose ability to portray the play’s weighty themes provides the balance to the decidedly difficult subject matter. The audience was, as one, moved, entertained and brokenhearted by the performances, which cleverly interspersed pain with wit and charm.

Mysterious Skin explores the limitations and deceits of memory, the need for understanding and human connection, alien abduction and friendship, against a harrowing backdrop of personal discovery.

The show stars Richard Allen as Neil and David Lock as Brian, with Steph Reynolds, Ciara Tansey, James Devlin and Katie Burgess. The production is directed by Craig Hepworth and Adele Stanhope. Vertigo have been invited to tour the show and will be announcing new dates shortly.

Visit vertigotheatreproductions.co.uk for more information.

Russia’s Parliament passed a bill that would make it a crime for people to talk to say being gay or lesbian is normal, to celebrate pride, or to tell minors it is OK to be gay if they are struggling with their sexual orientation. Foreigners could be deported from Russia if they even communicate electronically in support of gays and lesbians.

This was the second reading of the bill. The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention. It is expected to easily pass the Upper House, after which Putin is expected to sign the bill.

“This bill is outrageous and incredibly dangerous for millions in Russia – both gay and straight,” Andre Banks Executive Director and Co-founder of All Out said. “This is a dangerous crackdown on free speech. No one will be safe from the witch hunt that will ensue, not gay people, not straight people, not even foreign businessmen and women traveling to Russia.”

This new law will significantly hinders an already struggling human rights community in Russia. The Russian government is suing gay rights organizations under the new “Foreign Agents” law. The law stipulates that any organization working on “political” issues that receives support from outside of Russia has to be identified as a “foreign agent.” So-called “foreign agents” are considered enemies of Russia under the law.
The penalties for accepting contributions from beyond Russia are stiff. Coming Out St Petersburg, a Russian equality organization who has partnered with All Out for two years, went to court on recently to fight closure because of fines.

“The crackdown against gays and lesbians in Russia is very troubling,” Andre Banks said. “While the rest of Europe is building a world where no person will have to sacrifice their family or freedom, safety or dignity because of who they are or who they love, Russia’s policies are making life more dangerous and less free for not only gays and lesbians, but all of Russia.”

Putin has shown he’s sensitive to international pressure about his treatment of gays and lesbians. During his visit to the Netherlands in April, he was greeted by a protesters and critical media coverage. At a press conference in Amsterdam Putin said, “‘In the Russian Federation – so that it is clear to everybody – there is no infringement on the rights of sexual minorities,” he said. “These people…enjoy all the same rights and freedoms as everyone else.’

Yet after two brutal murders for being gay within weeks, the Russian government has only intensified the anti-gay crackdown.

“The level of the crackdown against gay and lesbian people in Russia is at a new high,” said Polina A. from Russia’s equality organization Coming Out. “We have seen what All Out members can do to bring the attention of the whole world at critical moments. Now it’s time world leaders pay attention to us or soon there will be no more human rights and equality defenders in Russia.”

More than 75,000 people from within Russia and around the world signed a petition on All Out calling for Putin to stop the legal assault on gays and lesbians.

“This anti-gay crackdown does not represent Russian values,” Andre Banks said. “These are the values of the Russian Orthodox Church, whose conservative ideology will only drive Russians further into fear and isolation. Russians, like all people, want to be free.”

To see the live signature totals from All Out’s petition visit:
www.allout.org/russia-attacks