Enrique never forgot the thrill of matching with Jimmy on Grindr, only to be ghosted mere minutes later. The sudden
block was a harsh reminder that, sometimes, our online connections can be fleeting – and for all the wrong
reasons.

As he navigated the world of gay dating apps, he began to notice a peculiar phenomenon: straight men were
everywhere. They'd often claim to be straight, but their behaviour on these platforms spoke louder than words. It
was as if they were seeking validation in all the wrong places.

For them, Grindr wasn't about finding love; it was about getting a digital high. A quick swipe left or right, a
flirty message, and suddenly, they're getting more likes – and attention – than they ever thought possible. It's
an ego boost like no other, one that comes at the expense of someone else's emotional labour.

He'd been there himself, chatting with Harry on Grindr for weeks, only to have him ghost me when it was time to
meet up. But as he delved deeper into the world of online dating, he started to realize that these straight men
weren't just looking for casual hook-ups; they were searching for a sense of validation – and they'd do whatever it
took to get it.

It's a phenomenon that speaks volumes about our society's obsession with self-gratification. We're living in an
era where men can expect to be validated by women, but when that doesn't happen, they turn to other spaces – like
Grindr – to fill the void.

The problem is, these straight men often don't care who they're hurting along the way. They'll flood us with dick
pics, tease us with the idea of meeting up, and then ghost us without a second thought. The consequences can be
devastating, leaving gay guys feeling drained, dismissed, and – worst of all – invisible.

So why do straight men keep doing this? It's not because they're unaware of their privilege; it's because they've
been socialised to believe that women are the ones who should be seeking validation from them. But times have
changed. Women are no longer content with being objectified or used as a means to boost someone's ego.

As we navigate these complex online spaces, it's essential that we recognize the harm caused by straight men's
behaviour on gay dating apps. It's not just about personal boundaries; it's about recognizing the power dynamics at
play.

We need to create a world where gay people can be seen – and respected – without fear of being ghosted or used
for someone else's ego fix. We need to hold these straight men accountable for their actions, and we need to
recognise that our worth isn't defined by someone else's validation.

In April, a row between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sent shockwaves through
the corridors of power, leaving the latter sporting a rather fetching black eye. The explosive claim was made by
influential right-wing podcaster Stephen K Bannon in an interview with The Washington Post, and it's had pundits
buzzing about Musk and Trump's tumultuous relationship.

According to Bannon, the physical altercation took place in mid-April, when both men entered the Oval Office
separately to lobby for their preferred candidate to head the Internal Revenue Service. It appears that Trump
ultimately sided with Bessent's recommendation, leaving Musk feeling rather miffed. As they left the White House,
the US Treasury Secretary allegedly queried Musk about his claim of uncovering over $1 trillion in wasteful and
fraudulent government spending.

The conversation turned decidedly heated, and Bessent then reportedly shouted at Musk, saying, "You're a complete
and utter charlatan." A visibly agitated Musk responded by shoulder-checking Bessent's ribcage, the podcaster
claimed. Multiple people leapt into action to break up the scuffle as Musk was subsequently escorted from the West
Wing.

News of the altercation reached US President Donald Trump, who reportedly uttered, "This is too much." Now, you
might be wondering who this Scott Bessent chap is and why he's made such a splash in Washington. Well, old bean,
let me tell you.

Scott Bessent: A Trailblazer for Gay Representation

Bessent has taken his place as the first openly gay Senate-confirmed cabinet member in a Republican
administration. A Yale graduate with a distinguished career in finance under his belt, he's built a reputation for
being a shrewd operator before entering public service. It's worth noting that Bessent's past was marked by
donations to Democratic causes in the early 2000s, before he began supporting Trump and serving as an advisor.

In fact, Bessent worked for George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist who's been a stalwart supporter of
Democrats, during his time at London-based investment firm. His work on Soros' famous 1992 bet against the pound,
which generated substantial profits on "Black Wednesday," is the stuff of legend. During Trump's first term,
Bessent backed extending provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

It appears that his appointment had not gone down well with Musk, who remarked at the time, "Bessent is a
business-as-usual choice. Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change one way or another."
Ah, the drama! It seems that Bessent's appointment has sparked quite the controversy.

A gay GB News host has sparked outrage by suggesting that Pride month is actually doing more harm than good. Alex
Armstrong, the presenter of Gay GB News, made these comments during a heated debate segment on his show.

In a video clip shared on social media, Armstrong argued that Pride events often perpetuate negative stereotypes
and "turn people off" from accepting LGBTQ+ individuals. He expressed concern that some Pride celebrations feature
explicit content, which he claimed can be alienating for those who do not identify as gay.

"This is exactly the kind of thing that's driving a wedge between different sections of society," Armstrong said.
"If you're trying to promote acceptance and inclusivity, it's counterproductive to associate your cause with
something as provocative as public nudity or explicit displays."

Armstrong acknowledged that the LGBTQ+ community has faced a backlash in recent years but attributed this to the
influence of far-left institutions pushing for radical change. He argued that these groups have been instrumental
in driving the debate over issues like puberty blockers and forced integration into mainstream society.

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Tina Romero, daughter of the legendary filmmaker George A. Romero, is set to make her directorial debut with Queens of the Dead, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 7th. The filmmaker recently chatted with Entertainment Weekly, reflecting on her father's profound influence.

"I am his kid. There’s no denying it. And he has influenced me greatly," Romero remarked. Queens of the Dead will feature a smattering of Easter eggs to honour her father's legacy. "And this is his monster, this is his genre. I had fun doing my little Romero nods throughout the film, and we have some good ones," she shared, including cameos from notable figures like makeup artist and actor Tom Savini and Dawn of the Dead star Gaylen Ross.

A Gay Take on the Undead
"The zombie apocalypse is such a rich sandbox to play in when it comes to social commentary. I can’t be my dad’s daughter without making an attempt at saying something with zombies," Romero told the magazine. "I did want this to be a film in which I am paying homage to the world and the monster he created, but I’m also introducing my own voice. It’s very much not a film he would make, but it is using his vocabulary and is playing by his rules. As far as the gay element, on one hand, I just feel like the gays need a zombie film. It’s time that we get to have a big gay zombie movie."

Romero stressed, "I didn’t want to touch the genre unless it felt authentic to me." Queens of the Dead centres on a night in the gay party scene, where the vibrant nightlife at a warehouse drag show is abruptly interrupted by the zombie apocalypse. The inspiration stemmed from intense social media spats amongst party promoters during her time as a DJ.

From DJ Booth to Zombie Apocalypse
Romero recounted, "The original promoter posted this manifesto begging the question, ‘When will the gay community stop devouring its own?’ And it hit me like a bolt of lightning. I was like, ‘Oh my God! This would be how I want to explore the zombie genre in this world of gay nightlife.’" Katy O’Brian, known for her role as a baddie in The Mandalorian, plays the fictionalised promoter who leads the film. Romero noted there's a special thanks to Tom Cruise in the credits for allowing them to take time off their Mission: Impossible shoot to film the horror flick.

Romero hopes the film will highlight the demand for more genre films that represent an intersection of gay scream queens, infused with that familiar flair for horror and dark comedy from her father’s roots. The legendary filmmaker didn’t get to see a completed script but mentored his daughter throughout the development process.

Romero shared, "He said, ‘I love it! Run with it. Go for it.’ Unfortunately, he never got to read the completed script because it took me about seven years to get this developed… but I did have this blessing."

Tom Daley has described his time as a closeted athlete as a "very lonely experience".

The 31-year-old diver has been married to Hollywood director Dustin Lance Black, 5, since 2017 but went through some personal struggles before coming out to the world in his late teens. He's keen to help others in a similar predicament avoid ending up in a "dangerous" place.

He told Variety: "They don't know what to do, how to navigate, and obviously coming out in certain places is a very different experience than coming out in the UK or the US, so it can be quite dangerous.

"I always say to them that I can be there as a sounding board just because it is a very lonely experience."

Daley – whose father Robert passed away from a brain tumour in 2011 at the age of 40 – has sons Robbie, six, as well as two-year-old Phoenix with his husband. He admitted that losing his dad was one of the "most difficult" things he's ever had to go through, but he still draws inspiration from his father when it comes to his parenting style.

He said: "I model lots of my parenting and lots of the things that I do every day around what I learned from my dad. He was my biggest cheerleader. He was there for every training session, every competition, and he was a huge part of my life, day in, day out.

"Losing him was one of the most difficult things that I ever had to deal with.

"Yet I was dealing with that in a very public way in the UK. Looking back on all of that footage was quite challenging to watch because I felt really sorry for the younger Tom that I kind of was just carrying on and putting on a brave face, and I didn't ever want to bother anyone with how I was feeling because I didn't want to ever make anyone else feel uncomfortable."

The Olympian has discussed his life and career at length in the new documentary, Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds, but admitted that he initially had reservations about speaking about such personal things on camera.



He said: "I wasn't sure about doing it initially. You know what? This is something that I would love to be able to then show my kids in the future and be able to be like, 'Look, this is what Papa did. This is the thing that Papa was doing day in, day out,' and the things that I did, and be able to get to know the relationship I had with my dad and all of that stuff."

When Wang Zengyi, 41, and Song Jihan, 29, first met at a friend's dinner party in China, it was, by all accounts, love at first sight.

"He was considered handsome and pure," Wang remarked, adding that their "love has deepened over time."

Almost three years on, the gay Chinese couple are celebrating their marriage in Thailand. The country became the largest nation in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage earlier this year, a law that notably includes foreign couples.

They are among the first Chinese gay couples to marry in the Southeast Asian country, coinciding with Thailand's first Pride celebration since the landmark legislation passed.

"Thailand is perceived as a freer country," Wang commented after they signed their marriage certificate at a Bangkok registry office. "It's also more inclusive towards their community."

He believes they are the first gay Chinese couple to host a full wedding ceremony in Thailand, expressing a hope that "gradually" more will follow. "They feel unique so far... but hope to have a positive influence."

The couple sought assistance from an agent and a consultant to organise both the wedding and the necessary paperwork, ultimately fulfilling their long-held dream.

Overcoming Bureaucratic Hurdles

Owen Zhu, an agent who assists gay couples in getting married in Thailand, anticipates an increase in Chinese couples looking to wed and reside in the country.

While Chinese authorities decriminalised homosexuality in 1997, same-sex marriage remains illegal, and societal stigma is still widespread.

Despite a period of relative relaxation between the 2000s and mid-2010s, rights groups indicate that recent years have seen a clampdown on the community's spaces and freedom of expression.

Owen Zhu, a 40-year-old real estate agent, operates a property business in Thailand that also supports gay Chinese couples in marrying there.

Zhu noted that the primary challenges faced by couples like Wang and Song are related to paperwork and, unfortunately, prejudice.

He said that it is difficult for Chinese gay individuals to obtain the 'certificate of single status' required by Thailand as proof that they are not already married. Furthermore, China does not recognise same-sex marriages registered abroad, adding another layer of complexity.

We watched this film the other day and really liked it! It's both well acted and funny!

Here's the synopsis:
Naveen, a shy but loveable Indian-American doctor, is just trying to live his best life when - bam! - his family starts nudging him towards marriage. Fast forward a few years, and he’s still single, still awkward, and still dodging matchmaking attempts like a pro. But then, in a twist worthy of Bollywood itself, he meets Jay - a charming, free-spirited white guy who was adopted by Indian parents and somehow knows more about Bollywood than Naveen does.

Cue the romance, the cultural clashes, and the inevitable family introductions, where Naveen tries (and fails) to make Jay seem more “acceptable” to his traditional parents. Things go sideways when Jay accidentally gets caught using a marijuana pen in the family bathroom (because of course he does), and just when you think things couldn’t get messier - Naveen’s sister drops a bombshell of her own.

It’s got love, laughter, and enough awkward family moments to make you want to hug your own relatives in relief. Basically, if you’ve ever wanted a rom-com that mixes Bollywood dreams with modern chaos, A Nice Indian Boy is the one for you. Just be prepared for some second-hand embarrassment along the way.

Clarkson's Farm: Jeremy Buys 'Gay' Bull in Latest Diddly Squat Dilemma

Jeremy Clarkson's latest farming mishap for Clarkson's Farm involves a £5,500 breeding bull named Endgame that he suspects is gay. The former Top Gear host, whose show returned for its fourth season on May 23rd, introduces the prize bull to his cows at Diddly Squat Farm, only for the animal to show no interest.

In new episodes, farmhand Kaleb Cooper clarifies to Clarkson that gay animals do exist. Clarkson's confusion escalates as the cows begin to chase and even attempt to mount the bull.

Ryan Phillippe recently opened up about his initial "fears" regarding his role as a gay teen in the soap opera 'One Life to Live.'

Ryan Phillippe is reflecting on his truly ground-breaking role as gay teenager Billy Douglas in the ABC soap opera One Life to Live from 1992 to 1993. More than 30 years later, the actor calls it a "really profound experience" that led to an "almost instantaneous" wave of appreciation from gay fans.

While Phillippe was young at the time, he shared with People that he harboured "some fears associated with the point in time that we were at," acknowledging that "so many walls and ceilings" had yet to be broken regarding gay representation. Yet, he added, "any fears that anyone had about me doing it immediately went away once I saw the reaction that it got from the people who viewed it."

The impact of Billy Douglas was deeply personal for many. Phillippe recalled receiving heartfelt letters from viewers who expressed, "I’ve never seen someone represent me in any entertainment before in my life." Parents also reached out, sharing how "watching this show on my lunch break gave me a way to connect with my gay child."

As the first gay teen character in a soap opera, Billy Douglas paved a vital path for onscreen gay visibility. Phillippe went on to star in acclaimed films such as Cruel Intentions and Crash, and is currently appearing in the Prime Video series Motorheads.

Former NBA star Jason Collins has officially married his long-time partner, Brunson Green. The couple exchanged vows in Austin, Texas, over the recent long weekend. Friends shared photos and videos of the happy event, with Collins himself reposting images, including one capturing the grooms walking hand-in-hand down the aisle.

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