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Import: The Top 11 Gay Characters in Mainstream Movies

By Creativity, Journalism, TV, Online Streaming & FilmsNo Comments

When’s the last time you saw a gay character in a mainstream movie? A while? Recently? Although gay people are under represented in the film world, there are more of us around than you might think.

We’ve put together our list of the top 11 gay characters in mainstream movies. Each one of them is terrific in their own special way. Here’s the list:

11. Dr. Frank-N-Furter – The Rocky Horror Picture Show

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(Image Credit: Fanpop)

Dr. Frank-N-Further (Tim Curry) from The Rocky Horror Picture Show is technically bisexual. He seemed to prefer men to women, after all he created Rocky, but we also see him get it on with Brad and Janet.

10. Michael Caffrey – Billy Elliott

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(Image Credit: Great Blus @ Tumblr)

Michael Caffrey (Stuart Wells) comes out in Billy Elliott after warming Billy’s cold hands on his body. It’s brilliantly shot and shows that to Billy, Michael’s friendship is more important than whether he likes boys or girls.

9. Jack Twist – Brokeback Mountain

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(Image Credit: Fanpop)

Jack Twist’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) journey to self-acceptance is a beautiful one. It’s great to see his character grow in confidence as he accepts his sexuality, even if what happens to him at the end did leave us a bit traumatised.

8. Ennis Del Mar – Brokeback Mountain

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(Image Credit: Jonathan Hurwitz)

Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) is reluctant to form an emotional connection with Jack in Brokeback Mountain. But after learning about his childhood memories of what he saw done to gay men we could understand why.

7. Blaine Tuttle – Cruel Intentions

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(Image Credit: GoFugYourself)

Blaine Tuttle (Joshua Jackson) was so brilliantly 90’s gay in Cruel Intentions. Blaine was openly out and self-confident, as well as being mean and sinister.

6. Stuart Dakin – The History Boys

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(Image Credit: What Else Mode @ Tumblr)

Stuart Dakin (Dominic Cooper) is a sexually confident pupil in The History Boys who tries to seduce his male teacher at the end of the year.

5. Irwin – The History Boys

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(Image Credit: Ma Vie En L’air @ WordPress)

Irwin (Stephen Campbell) was the Teacher in The History Boys. A geeky character who encourages his students to follow their passion. There’s a spark between him and pupil Stuart Dakin (played by Dominic Cooper above), but Irwin is too afraid of the consequences of acting on his attraction.

We couldn’t resist adding in a picture of Irwin and Stuart together here:

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(Image Credit: Sinclair_furie)

4. George Downes – My Best Friends Wedding

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(Image Credit: Omundodoemarco @ Blogspot)

George Downes (Rupert Everett) is best friend to Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) in Hollywood flick My Best Friend’s Wedding. He’s any openly gay man who charms everyone.

3. Graham Dashwood – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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(Image Credit: Total Film)

Graham Dashwood (Tom Wilkinson) is a High Court Judge in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. As a teenager in India he fell in love with a boy. But when the families found out Graham was shipped back to Britain and he never went back. He lived a life as a bachelor until the start of the film where he goes back to India to find his former lover.

2. Armand Goldman – The Birdcage

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(Image Credit: Screen Used)

Armand Goldman (Robin Williams) is the owner of a popular nightclub The Birdcage in the film of the same name. Hilariously funny, he tries to play it straight for his son’s fiancées parents.

1. Albus Dumbledoor – Harry Potter

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(Image Credit: Fanpop)

Albus Dumbledoor (Richard Harris / Michael Gambon) was Head Teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter books and films. It was never said that he was gay until author J.K Rowling outed him, but his fabulous robes and flare of body language (particularly when Michael Gambon took over playing him) hinted at his sexuality.

So whom have we missed? Who’d make your top list of gay characters in mainstream movies? Comment below or on our Facebook page.

Published by: The Gay UK on Saturday 2nd August 2014.



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Friday 18 July 2014

Import: John Barrowman’s Success after being dropped by Record Label

By Journalism, Music & RadioNo Comments
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John Barrowman: You Raise Me Up (CD Cover)

 John Barrowman recently released his Pledge Music fan-funded album You Raise Me Up. It reached #16 in the UK album charts, much better than two of his previous studio albums with record label Sony.

Another Side (2007) Barrowman released with Sony BMG only managed to reach #22 in the UK album chart. Music Music Music (2008) also with Sony barely entered the UK album chart at #35. After this the record label dropped Barrowman. A fan at a convention in the US later asked Barrowman when his next album was coming out. He explained that it wasn’t and the young fan said: ‘We’ll fund it!’

Barrowman when talking about You Raise Me Up said that he felt privileged to make the album and that: ‘I think this is the best album that I’ve ever, ever made.’

Despite dropping to #25 on the UK album charts this week, it seems that Barrowman is having more success with Pledge Music (a site that allows fans to pledge money to artists in exchange for a copy of the album, merchandise and meet and greet opportunities) than he was with the record label.

So does this mean that the Record Labels need to watch out? Comment below.

Published by: The Gay UK on Tuesday 15th July 2014.

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Tuesday 15 July 2014

Import: How to Score a Second Date

By Journalism, Love & RelationshipsNo Comments

So you’ve met this man, you really like him and you want to score yourself a second date. Well you’re going to have to impress him.

Here are some ways to impress a man:

On the first date, let’s start with common curtsy: be on time. He’s not going to be impressed if you’re half an hour late because you were doing your hair or choosing what to wear. Leave yourself enough time to get ready and travel to the venue of the date.

Make an effort with your appearance. Looking smart will impress a man far more than looking like you fell out of a skip. Make sure what you wear is appropriate to the venue of your first date. So there’s no need to wear a suit if you’re going to the cinema, but still make an effort to look your best.

When your date arrives give him a genuine complement. We all like receiving a complement, especially if we’ve made a particular effort to look good. So your date will like this and you are likely to be rewarded by a smile and positive regard.

Be confident, but not arrogant or cocky. Watch what you say and do. Are you talking about yourself negatively? What does your body language say about you? You need to like yourself and show that you do, before you can expect your date to appreciate, like and fall for you. Remember: you are wonderful and unique. There’s no one else in the world that’s you.

While we’re talking about body language, keep your eyes off other guys. Looking at other men will tell you’re date that your not interested in him. Your date should be your focus, so keep your attention focused on him and show this by making regular eye contact.

Don’t forget that you’re on a date. It’s supposed to be fun, so have fun, smile often and make him laugh.

In conversation, you should talk about 50% of the time and listen 50% of the time. Ask your date open questions to discover his interests and passions. Keep conversation light. Avoid emotive topics such as: ex-boyfriends and politics.

Always be honest with you date. Trust is built on honesty. If your not honest and things go well, sooner or later he’s going to find out. This doesn’t mean you have to tell him your deepest and darkest secrets on the first date. Save intimate secrets for later on when the relationship has developed. It’s OK to tell him you don’t want do discuss certain subjects until you get to know him better.

Being yourself is perhaps the most important advice in this article. Don’t try to be something you’re not. It’s exhausting and won’t lead to you being happy. Any gay man who has tried to play it straight will know this.

Have no expectations about how the date will go or what will happen. That way you wont disappointed if the spark isn’t there or you don’t get on. But you will be pleasantly surprised if things go well. There are no rules, so just do what feels right.

Published by: The Gay UK on Friday 13th June 2014.



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Friday 13 June 2014

All Writing And No Play

By Books & Authors, Journalism, Life2 Comments
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Christmas Mind Map

 It all started with an idea I had for a Christmas themed short story. One I intended to share with you, dear readers. I hoped to start the tradition, releasing a short story every Christmas. A present to you all. But then I saw a call for submissions and decided to use the story I’d started writing. I had to finish writing it, edit it, cut it down and finally un-Christmas it, but got it submitted.

Then I was invited to submit a short story for an anthropology, that I didn’t want to say no to. I also found two other anthropology competitions that I want to enter. This means a lot of my free time is being spent writing at the moment. I have deadlines till June. I hope to have a new short story to share with you later on in the year. When you make submissions, you can’t share the story anywhere, well not until Editors have decided that they don’t want it.

On top of these short stories, I’ve started the Advanced Creative Writing Course at Runshaw College and continue to write for The Gay UK, both adding additional pressure to my free time. You can read my published articles on professional portfolio.

Recently my blog has consisted of mostly book reviews. Don’t think that I’m slowly turning it into a reviewing site. My blog has always been a place to express myself and share events of my life through words and photos. This shall continue, I just have been expressing myself in short story form and haven’t done anything, apart from write, to share.

Despite my lack of personal posts my blog continues to grow. I’ve had 20,000 unique visitors in less than 17 months:


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I’m not sure that the WordPress plugin Jetpack is capturing all of the visitors though; as I also use another stats software that reports the numbers of visitors being higher.

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Sye & Me at Barry Humphries Show

 There has been some fun. Sye and I went to see Barry Humphries: The Eat, Pray and Laugh Farewell Tour.

I’m continuing one of my favourite pastimes, reading. I’m currently reading: Plague by Michael Grant, The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett, The Awakening by Yvonne Heidt, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks and am about to start Best Gay Romance 2014 Edited By Lambert & Cochrane.

My birthday is coming up and I intend on doing something to celebrate, I’m just not sure as to what yet.

Blog soon,

Antony



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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Saturday 22 March 2014
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