Pope Francis has apologised for using an offensive slur during a discussion with bishops about admitting gay men into seminaries, saying he “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms”.
The rare papal apology followed reports in the Italian press on Monday that, during the discussion in Rome last week, the pontiff, 87, had said there was already too much “frociaggine” in some seminaries. The Italian word roughly translates as “faggotness”. READ MORE
A powerful, rightwing lobbying group is promoting a hard-right policy agenda and cementing ties between the Republican party and the far right at at least 21 events involving senators, members of Congress, and both junior and senior political aides, documents obtained by the Guardian show.
The documents offer previously unreported details of Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) trainings and “bootcamps” for congressional staff at CPI’s sprawling Maryland ranch, and lavish, star-studded retreats for members of Congress – mostly members of the far-right Freedom caucus – at a string of Florida resorts.
They also show how CPI, widely described as the “nerve center of the Maga movement”, enlisted its own network of affiliated organizations along with like-minded far-right organizations – some classified as hate groups by experts – as well as individual extremists to promote anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-vaccine policies, along with others premised on the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump. READ MORE
A group of ‘attractive and confident’ virgins are heading to an island in a newly announced dating show that provokes a number of questions.
Perhaps America does have enough attention-seeking wannabes willing to trade their virginity for three months of vague notoriety. And if that’s the case, maybe Virgin Island will run for years to come. But if it doesn’t, and the show struggles to find applicants, I hope it remembers that there is still enough time to fully give into the dark side and rebrand itself as Incel Island. READ MORE
Patti LaBelle at 80 on soul, sex, survival and superstardom. READ MORE
They’ve also been found in almost every human organ.
Microplastics are omnipresent. These small pieces of plastic, which are leftover from all sorts of consumer products, have been detected in oceans, historic soil samples, and virtually everywhere on the planet. Naturally, they’ve also been found in almost every human organ: In lung tissue, blood, breastmilk, and more. And now, a recent study published in Toxicological Sciences has shown a light on yet another body part they’re ending up in: testicles.
An earlier study had previously assessed the presence of microplastics in human testes and semen. READ MORE
The more we hear about these two mutants, the more they seem to be made for each other... Deadpool & Wolverine has a different dynamic: two guys who don’t want to work with each other but discover they have more in common than they thought (like Loki’s Loki and Morbius but with more R-rated jokes and less noble sacrifice). Whether or not they end up in a romantic relationship doesn’t really matter: emulating a rom-com, even platonically, will still be the closest the MCU has gotten to a frothy enemies-to-lovers dynamic. READ MORE
Israel's pseudo philosopher Harari is gay and in 2002 met his husband Itzik Yahav, whom he has called "my internet of all things". Yahav has also been Harari's personal manager. They married in a civil ceremony in Toronto, Canada. He lives in karmei Yosef, a moshav in central Israel. Read more on why Harari is an existential threat to Palestinians.
Many men want to get married once they have established their careers properly, but maybe there are reasons to reconsider this decision. Here are some advantages of getting married at an early age. Read more from Life in Saudi Arabia
Many people’s sex lives can dip in middle age – and tiredness is a real passion killer. But there are simple things that can make a difference. READ MORE
For years I tried so hard to find that elusive band of forever friends. But maybe this isn’t a mould I was made to fit into. According to cinema and television, women are constantly forming incredible female friendships. READ MORE
Don't look thrice?
In a narrow alley in a South Asian capital, I ordered a South Asian dish at a South Asian restaurant.
I was halfway through eating when a handsome man came out of the kitchen and came over to the checkout counter perhaps to confer over a matter with the cashier.
As he turned around to go back to the kitchen, he stopped and gazed at me for longer than necessary. He smiled and I smiled back.
I proceeded with eating and again the dude came over to the checkout counter. This time I made sure not to look in his direction in order not to make him feel awkward that I was a freak making an unsolicited pass at him. But this time he walked to the line of my sight, paused, and held my gaze again for longer than necessary. He smiled and I smiled back.
Thinking that this meant he was okay with our gazing into each other's eyes, when he came over to the cashier for a THIRD time I decided to deliberately look in his direction in order to lay this uncomfortable matter to rest. He looked at me but there was no smile. He could have withdrawn from me for any reasons including the fact that he doesn't want anybody or even himself to acknowledge his homosexuality.
So, like last time, gazing at potentially queer guys thrice may not be a psychologically satisfactory experience in a world where homosexuality is condemned outright, sometimes in South Asian societies, although the queer situation in South Asia is showing hope for heteronormative narratives to co-exist with homosexual norms.
A crucial factor may be a person’s attachment style. READ MORE
Switzerland’s Nemo won a chaotic and politically fraught Eurovision Song Contest, triumphing in a competition in Sweden that was upstaged by controversy and booing over the presence of Israel.
The typically jovial event – one of the most-watched in the world’s cultural calendar – descended into turmoil in recent days, as organizers tried and failed to contain anger aimed towards Israel’s delegation.
But Nemo, a favorite throughout the process, won over crowds with a stunning rendition of “The Code,” a genre-bending anthem about their journey towards accepting their non-binary identity. READ MORE
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are coming under pressure to use their financial might to persuade Ghana to reconsider a proposed law that could lead to anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+ being jailed for three years. READ MORE
With a history spanning more than 1,200 years, “hadaka matsuri,” or the naked festival, is Japanese masculinity on full display. Quite literally.
Across Japan, in freezing winter, thousands of men strip naked — except for a delicate piece of crotch-covering white loincloth — to jostle around their local shrines. Each participant tries to get as close as possible to a man playing the role of “shin-otoko,” a god-man who wards off bad luck.
On one hand, the ritual illustrates Japan’s steadfast respect for tradition and cultural heritage. But on the other, its insistence on excluding women — only men are considered pure in the traditional Japanese culture — bears all the hallmarks of one of the country’s greatest modern struggles: gender inequality. READ MORE
Cumberland city council says ban prompted by parents’ complaints.
The Sydney council voted to ban same-sex parenting books from local libraries, sparking discrimination and censorship concerns. READ MORE
I thought it will take more than two weeks to complete this second revamping like my first revamping. But since it was only about posting the titles and assigning the relevant tags/labels to all the blogposts, I finished in record time. Happily enough, this wasn't a working weekend. I just whiled away the hours watching a movie and reading a book.
Something that may be noticeable is that, during my first revamping, I removed certain blogposts that I felt did not match the theme of this blog which is LARGELY about men's sexuality.
The other thing is I have removed all the blogposts mentioning celebrities. Blogger requires bloggers to accord respect to everyone and I am under the impression that celebrities who are not openly queer may not like to be mentioned in an explicit queer blog such as this.
And the other thing is that due to the above-mentioned factor, and also because due to some "mistakes" I earlier made in assigning the "Queer Observations" blogposts, there is a disruption in the chronological order of those blogposts. So you might find some missing blogposts in the chronology. Where there are sequels to the blogposts, I have made sure I have embedded the link to the earlier relevant blogpost, for instance, check this blogpost. So despite the chronologically missing blogposts, you are not missing anything.
Thank you all for your kind patience and generous time diverted to reading the blogposts on this blog. Hope it has been an informative and entertaining experience. Cheers.
Is adult content allowed on Blogger?
Yes, Blogger allows adult content, including images and videos that contain nudity or sexual activity. However, it comes with certain restrictions. READ MORE
Don't know why. Hahaha! Can't believe me and my friends have been operating this blog since March 6, 2023. Times passes way too fast! And we are not getting any younger either! Anyways, me and my friends will keep sharing our queer life experiences and other useful information about the larger queer community. In the meantime, hugs and kisses to all followers of this blog including all newcomers and those who have faithfully been visiting this blog over the past year. Mwah!
In curly brown hair and a black jacket in front of a blue background, she describes the need for eSIM donations to Gaza, as well as the key steps in doing a donation.
WATCH: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6pHt5BoTbb/
I visited the Maldives sometime back, and déjà vu, again I was offered an unsolicited moped ride.
This time, my Maldivian friend bid me goodbye for the night, and I waited near a bus stop which would take me from east to west on the capital island Male's main thoroughfare, Majeedhee road.
I didn't wait long when a guy on a moped stopped right beside me.
He was direct to the point.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked me in perfect English.
He looked South Asian from his physical features.
I was at a loss of words for this unexpected happening and I could only point my hand toward a westerly direction.
"Come," he said, again in English.
By now I had somewhat collected myself and asked him: "How much?" I was thinking that this could be another moped taxi.
He shook his head as if money didn't matter to him and said: "It's ok. I will take you where you want to go."
I hopped on behind him and he started the ride.
A few meters into our ride and he asked: "Are you (country name censored)?"
I knew that we Brown people could pass off for any South Asian and because I wasn't sure I should trust this stranger I lied to him about my nationality. And the only reason I took up on his offer was because there was no way I was going to get off Majeedhee road where the crowds wouldn't let any danger come to me.
Due to his inquiry into my nationality, I asked him from where he was and he told me the name of another South Asian country. Of course, there was no way I could be sure about that.
I was on my way to a Sri Lankan restaurant, and I asked him to stop at a distance because I didn't want him to follow me just in case.
I hopped off his moped and asked him: "How much?"
He smiled and replied: "Up to you". He still spoke English.
I took out my wallet and gave him a 20 Rufiya note which is about a dollar at current Forex rates of Maldives.
He smiled and took out his wallet and put the note in it.
For some inexplicable reason, I patted his dorsal and he rode off. I don't know why I did that. Was it because I became happy for an unsolicited kind gesture from a complete stranger?
Majeedhee street or not, while I was eating at the Sri Lankan restaurant, I realized that things could have turned out different if I told him I was from the country which he asked me about.
Or maybe I am becoming unreasonably paranoid. No moped would be able to pick up speed at more than 35 mph at that busy hour of shopping on Majeedhee road which means I could jump off if he tried to take me anywhere other than Majeedhee road. Of course, I might hit the ground although I am sure I can escape with a few bruises or scratches at the worst.
Maybe I am chastising myself for no good reason. But if I want to ensure my safety on the streets of Male' I guess I should take my Maldivian friend's advice and install Avas Ride app on my cell phone.
Indeed, due to the fact that this is the second time a stranger on a moped offered me a ride on Majeedhee street, perhaps I should seriously ponder why this type of event has happened to me twice.
I don't know what kind of motivation these strangers could have even though I know it's not healthy to live a paranoid life. So perhaps sometimes I can afford to accept friendly gestures from strangers as long as I have ensured that there's no opportunity for me to get into a sticky spot.
I was back in that South Asian capital.
As I promised myself, I went to that café.
I looked around but there was no sign of that waiter.
I became a bit disappointed.
I ordered a paratha, fish curry gravy, and a Bombay tea.
I sat at a table which was in the line of sight of the cashier.
After finishing the meal, I went to wash my hands.
I came over to the cashier counter and I got a nice surprise: THAT waiter was serving as the cashier perhaps relieving the actual cashier so that the latter can have his dinner.
I paid in cash and I looked at his handsome face to see whether he noticed that it was me.
In fact, he did. Since he was sitting, he looked up and when our eyes met, he smiled at me. He did recognize me.
In a widely spoken South Asian language, I asked him how he was doing. He didn't reply verbally but brightened up and gave me a lingering smile.
I stayed in that guesthouse during my second day too but didn't go to his cafe that night. I thought I shouldn't freak out people and let it be while the going was good. I could always come back to him every time I am back in his country during my travels all over South Asia.
An Indian judge has dismissed a woman’s complaint that her husband committed “unnatural sex,” because under Indian law it’s not illegal for a husband to force his wife to engage in sexual acts.
The ruling, made in the Madhya Pradesh High Court last week, shines a light on a legal loophole in India that doesn’t criminalize marital rape by a husband against his wife, if she’s over age 18.
...The offense includes non-consensual “carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal,” and was historically used to prosecute same sex couples who engaged in consensual sex, before the Supreme Court decriminalized homosexuality in 2018. READ MORE
I started this blog as a strictly gay-men-oriented blog but since March 2023, when I launched my blog, my friends developed an interest in my blogging and started expressing their desire to see at least a few "queer" material from time to time. So please don't be surprised that if I have started referring to "queer" folks sometimes along with "gay" folks.
Furthermore, this means that in my writings, I have decided to be a little bit more queer-centric rather than gay-centric. Therefore, you may find some blogposts where I reference both gay men and queer men in one breath. Therefore, I am now more comfortable to use the acronym LGBTQIA+ to refer to the queer community.
I admit that in my younger days I lived as if in a world only inhabited by men but as I have matured I have become sensitive to the existence of women and transgenderism much to my great relief as I certainly feel unfair if I exclude men and women who are not strictly gay/homosexual because INCLUSIVITY is the ethical, moral, and the obvious way to go.
With this in mind I hit Google's Bard and researched and collected information on who QUEER FOLKS are.
Here's what I came up with:
"Queer" is a broad term used to describe individuals whose sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression does not conform to traditional, heteronormative expectations.
It encompasses a diverse spectrum of identities, including, but not limited to:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT): These are the most commonly recognized identities under the queer umbrella. Lesbians are women attracted to women, gay men are men attracted to men, bisexuals are attracted to people of more than one gender, and transgender people identify with a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth.
Non-binary individuals: These individuals do not identify exclusively as male or female, and may express their gender in a variety of ways.
Genderqueer individuals: Similar to non-binary, but genderqueer individuals may experience their gender identity in a more fluid or non-fixed way.
Asexual individuals: Individuals who do not experience sexual attraction.
Aromantic individuals: Individuals who do not experience romantic attraction.
Intersex individuals: Individuals born with physical characteristics that don't fit the typical definitions of male or female bodies.
It's important to remember that "queer" is a self-identified term, and not everyone who falls under this umbrella will choose to use it.
Additionally, individual experiences within the queer community are incredibly diverse, and there is no single "right" way to be queer.
In her 2024 Netflix special “Have It All,” stand-up comedian Taylor Tomlinson has a bit about coming out as bisexual. Of telling a friend, she says, “It’s scary to just say you’re bisexual, because then someone’s always like, ‘F**king prove it.’” Though the joke is delivered to laughs, Tomlinson later adds, “Everyone’s real aggressive about it.” READ MORE
This time I am going to put titles to all blogposts for those who want to easily identify the kind of stuff they want to go through.
Also, I am introducing a new Tag/Label called QUEER FOCUS. The idea is to differentiate between QUEER NEWS which will be straightforward news items while QUEER FOCUS will focus on queer things that take stock of queer stuff that are not straightforward news and also that generally do not appear like ESSAY.
QUEER FOCUS will bring attention to queer things that don't fall under ESSAY or QUEER OBSERVATIONS which is more like analyzing queer behavior observed in people that is experienced by me and my friends.
This blog now contains 187 blogposts. So I might take another two weeks to bring these changes completely. Thanks.
