[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/swanlake.jpg[/img2]One of Britain's most successful choreographers and the mastermind behind Swan Lake, plans to give Romeo a male lover in a gay adaptation of the Shakespearean classic Romeo and Juliet.

Following the international success of Swan Lake, which has been touring for over ten years, Matthew Bourne is turning his attention to Romeo, Romeo.

It is an adaptation of Sergei Prokofiev's ballet, which, like Swan Lake, will feature an all-male cast.

Speaking last week, Bourne said that the project's success rests on portraying a convincing gay relationship in dance.

"Its more to do with dancing than with sexuality. A male dancer, whether he's gay or straight, fits into a relationship with a female partner very happily," he told The Sunday Times.

"Getting away from that, making a convincing love duet, a romantic, sexual duet, for two men that is comfortable to do and comfortable to watch — I don't know if you can. I've never seen it done."

Bourne's ground-breaking Swan Lake, which cast all the swans and cygnets with male performers, was first staged in 1995 and has since become the longest running ballet in London's West End.

However, Bourne has admitted that it stopped short of being a homosexual ballet because the dancers were not playing people.

"I have a way of approaching it so as to make it - I hate to say 'acceptable', it's a terrible thing to say - but so that people don't run screaming from the theatre," he said.

"I let them find their own way with it, take it as far as they want in their own heads," he added.

Bourne plans to work with small groups of dancers on preliminary movements and scenes this summer. Full scale rehearsals could begin next year.

Bourne has created choreography for several major revivals of classic musicals including Cameron Mackintosh’s productions of Oliver! (1994) and My Fair Lady (2002, UK Tour - 2005/6) as well as the National Theatre’s revival of South Pacific (2002).

In 2004 Matthew co-directed and co-choreographed the hit West End musical Mary Poppins and won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/scooch.jpg[/img2]The Ukraine has announced it will be represented at this year's Eurovision Song Contest by drag artist Verka Serdyuchka.

In February the Danes chose drag act DQ to represent them at the competition. BBC viewers chose band Scooch by a phone vote on Saturday night.

The 2007 British entry was chosen on Saturday. Scooch are a four-piece group, whose infectiously cheeky Euro-pop tune Flying the Flag (for You) could be Britain's first win since 1997.

TV veteran Terry Wogan caused confusion at the vote on Saturday night by initially announcing that singer Cyndi had won the public vote.
Moments later co-presenter Fearne Cotton confirmed Scooch as the winners.

The band beat Brian Harvey from East17, former Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon, The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins and urban music band Big Brovaz.

The Ukrainian choice has generated controversy, as her song pokes fun at Russian women "of a certain age."

Televised in this country by the BBC, the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Helsinki, Finland, on 12th May.

Due to the large number of European nations now wanting to take part, some countries, among them Denmark and the Ukriane, have to go through a semi-final knock-out the previous Thursday.

This year's drag acts will certainly not be the first time that a member of the LGBT community has taken part in the contest, which is watched by hundreds of millions across the world.

In 1998, a transsexual pop singer, Dana International, won the contest for Israel.

Last year Eurovision was rocked by political voting and a shock win by Finnish heavy metal band Lordi.

The group, in monster masks and chains, won the contest in Athens with 292 points for their controversial entry, Hard Rock Hallelujah.

None of the "big four" countries made the top ten and Eastern European, Balkan, Baltic and Scandinavian countries all voted for their neighbours.

The UK do not have to qualify through the semi-final as they are a major contributor to the European Broadcasting Union, which runs the contest, now in its 51st year.

Ireland has won Eurovision seven times, which is the current record, though they have not done so since 1996.

The UK has won five times and have achieved the best cumulative points record of any country by coming second a total of fifteen times.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/health.jpg[/img2]A Los Angeles fertility clinic has launched the world's first programme dedicated to male couples wishing to become biological parents.

While other centres have made headway into providing gay couples with biological children, The Fertility Institute is the first with a comprehensive programme covering each stage of the process.

This includes psychological, legal, medical and surrogate issues, as well as care for both donor and patient.

Demand for surrogate mothers has risen dramatically, due mostly to the difficulties of adopting as a gay couple in the US.

Before the programme was established, gay couples who wanted biological children had to go to several different agencies to find mothers, egg donors, lawyers and medical treatment.

In many cases, the surrogate mother would drop out if she discovered that the couple wanting the child was gay.

This was usually because of a perception that the gay community has higher rates of sexually transmitted disease.

Instead, the Institute gets consent from surrogates upfront, conducts sexual health tests on the fathers-to-be, and freezes their sperms for six months as a safeguard.

70 couples have been treated so far, 40% of them from the US and the rest from Germany, China, Canada, Italy, Brazil, South Africa and the UK.

The Institute first came into the spotlight by offering couples the opportunity to choose the sex of their baby, a practice illegal in almost every country apart from the United States.

Three quarters of gay couples using the clinic are now also opting to select their child's sex, with 60 percent of them choosing a boy. This incurs an additional fee above the $60,000 cost of the programme itself.

Dr Jeffrey Steinberg, director of The Fertility Institute, told Reuters news agency that he was braced for controversy now he has gone public with the programme.

"This is new. It is challenging. We understand people are a little intimidated, a little frightened by it. It just takes time to get used to the thing."

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/mariovasquez.jpg[/img2]Former American Idol finalist Mario Vasquez has been accused of masturbating in front of one of the show's employees and offering him oral sex.

Cheeky Hispanic Vasquez got into the final 12 of the competition in 2005, before dropping out for "personal reasons."

It is thought he did so to avoid being bound by the restrictive contracts that finalist have to sign. However, Vasquez has yet to see his popularity on the show translate into CD sales, though the latest revelation may get him a whole new fanbase.

Idol employee Magdaleno Olmos has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in Los Angeles against Vasquez, who he claims tried to seduce him inside a toilet.

Olmos, an assistant accountant for Idol, alleges that the lothario of the loos "looked through the space in the stall door and made eye contact" while touching himself.

Olmos claims when he tried to exit the cubicle, Vasquez stood in front of him with his trousers down and started masturbating, an episode which almost makes you grateful for Will Young's inoffensive, nicer-than-nice persona.

Vasquez is accused of trying to undo Olmos' pants and touching his chest, stomach and genitals, before asking "if he wanted oral sex."

Olmos says Idol staff did not investigate his complaints about Vasquez's behaviour.

It is not known what the judge will make of this karaoke, unoriginal performance, but as every reality TV addict knows, at the end of the day it is the public who will decide.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/couple.jpg[/img2]A new scheme promoting alternative lifestyles through fairytales aimed a primary-aged children has been criticised by Christian activists.

So far fourteen schools and one local authority are taking part in the No Outsiders programme. It has secured funding of £600,000 from the Economic and Social Research Council.

The scheme is run by Sunderland and Exeter universities and the Institute of Education (IoE) in London.

If successful it is hoped to extend it nationwide.

One of the fairy stories features a prince who turns down three princesses before falling in love with a man.

Others feature two male penguins raising a chick and a girl with two space-travelling mothers.

The push to include books for primary-aged children that encompass same-sex relationships has angered religious groups and re-ignited the debate about Section 28.

"The predictions of those who said the repeal of Section 28 would result in the active promotion of homosexuality in schools are coming true," Simon Calvert of the Christian Institute told The Guardian.

Section 28, passed in 1988, banned local authorities from promoting homosexuality as a valid lifestyle, after tabloid newspaper outrage at a book which showed a little girl living happily with two gay men.

It was abolished in 2003, and this marks the first attempt to re-introduce gay-friendly books into schools.

Booksellers Waterstones are considering introducing titles like King and King into their stores if the scheme goes nationwide.

It is hoped that teaching children as young as five about the existence of gay relationships might help in tackling the use of words like gay to mean bad or inferior.

In January, research by the National Union of Teachers revealed that the vast majority of their members hear the word gay used pejoratively on a regular basis.

Many felt that sexist and homophobic language was institutionally tolerated. The union is backing the No Outsiders scheme, as is the General Teaching Council.

The scheme's director, Elizabeth Atkinson, explained its importance:

"My background is in children's literature and I know how powerful it is in shaping social values and emotional development. What books do not say is as important as what they do," she told The Guardian.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/laptop.jpg[/img2]The internet is now officially the most popular way for gay men and women to find a date.

Research has shown that 87% of gay men and 58% of lesbians have used the internet to find a prospective partner in the past 12 months.

But over the same period only 18% of men and 27% of women have had a serious relationship, suggesting that finding the right partner is like finding a needle in a haystack.

That doesn't mean the gay community isn't trying, or that they have given up on the fairy-tale ending of living happily ever after in a civil partnership.

The research carried out by gay-parship.co.uk found that 47% of gay men and 41% of gay women are actively looking for a serious long-term relationship, compared to just 16% and 18% respectively looking for casual flings.

Dr Victoria Lukats, psychiatrist and relationships expert, puts paid to the myth that you have to be promiscuous to be gay:

"Our research finally dispels flawed stereotypical assumptions that gay men and women are less likely to want to form a serious relationship."

But gay people have been working hard at meeting someone.

Over the past 12 months 71% of gay men and women have visited a chat room or registered with an online dating site, while 47% have placed or responded to a personal ad.

A further 12% had joined a more traditional dating agency.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, all this activity hides a penchant for pessimism.

When questioned further, two thirds of people who are looking for something more serious – that's 72% of gay men and 59% of gay women – said they often doubted they would ever find someone.

So what's holding the gay community back from finding someone special?

Nearly a third (29%) of gay men and women admitted that high standards and excessive expectations were proving a barrier, while a further 32% claimed they just didn't attract the right people.

But the biggest barrier to meeting someone is shyness, cited by 42% of gay men and 29% of women.

Overall 87% said they like to flirt, but fear of rejection prevented them from making the first move.

Trust issues are also a big factor, as 32% have been hurt in a previous relationship. and 21% put it down to a pressured career leaving little time for the pursuit of love.

The research questioned 1,000 adults over the age of 18 on their attitudes and experiences of dating.

[img2=left]http://www.gayspeak.com/forum/images/news/cchavez.jpg[/img2]A Mexican pop singer has announced that he is gay, becoming one of only a few public figures to have come out in a country that is traditionally conservative Catholic.

22-year-old Christian Chavez, a member of the Mexican pop band RBD, revealed his homosexuality following the leaking of photographs that showed him marrying his partner at a ceremony in Canada.

"Certain photographs were released that show a part of me, a part that I was not prepared to speak of in fear of rejection, of criticism," he said on the band's website.



"I don't want to keep on lying and lie to myself because of fear," he wrote.

"I believe love is the purest feeling that exists and in this career filled with loneliness, having the opportunity to share those moments with someone, that when you look into their eyes, you forget all the negative things, it’s a gift of life, that I cherish more than fame.

"I don’t want to keep on lying and lie to myself because of fear," he said.



Homosexuality is rarely publicly acknowledged in Mexico and many have doubted that Chavez would have spoken about his sexuality had the photographs not been released.

Mexican gay rights activist, Sergio Villarreal praised Chavez for his decision and hoped that it would persuade future generations to express their sexuality without fear of public rejection.

"This young man represents a new way of seeing things, less prejudiced and more open," he said.

"Christian Chavez's decision symbolises this new way of seeing life and raises hope of a more inclusive future with more respect for differences."

RBD grew out of the teenage soap Rebelde, and are similar to British band S Club 7.

The programme featured a group of six students which rebelled against an elite Mexican boarding school by starting a band.

RBD has achieved commercial success selling over 9.5 million albums worldwide.

Chavez said he hoped his fans would understand his circumstances.

"Although I'm scared and filled with uncertainty I know that I can rely on the support of my fans, their love is bigger than all of this," he said.

Chavez's decision to get married will strike a chord with many gay and lesbian Mexicans.

In January the northern Mexican state of Coahuila became the first in the country to approve gay unions. Mexico City passed similar legislation in November.

[img2=left]images/news/qboy.jpg[/img2]QBoy's bid to make it big across the pond will begin with the USA's first major gay hip-hop tour this spring.

The gay rap artist will be flying the flag for Britain on the HomoRevolution Tour, which will take in the south-western states of America.

It has been organised by rapper DeadLee, who recently recorded a track with QBoy.

The tour will be filmed as part of a reality TV show to be shown on MTV's LOGO channel.

Immediately afterwards, QBoy will join the "Pick Up The Mic College Tour" which will be travelling all over the USA.

Pick Up The Mic was a revolutionary film by director Alex Hinton that documented the growing homo-hop scene.

QBoy said:

"I'm really looking forward to the "Pick Up The Mic" tour, although it's daunting! And spending time with other gay rappers; I like to be around them."

In particular, he looks forward to performing and touring with Johnny Dangerous and Melange Lavonne: "They're the other naughty little rappers. We sit at the back and misbehave."

U.S. fans and friends have been pestering the up-and-coming artist to visit them soon.

"I keep telling them I'm coming, and now I really am. It will be great to finally meet the U.S. fans in person."

QBoy's main concern, however, is with funding this opportunity of a lifetime:

"I fly out in five weeks time and I'm hoping to find some sponsorship. I'm also organising a fundraiser night with live music, and I'll ask people to donate towards the tour. Other than that, I'm really excited."

This month QBoy can be seen presenting a schools programme for Channel 4 in which he talks to children who have come out while still at school.

Coming Out To Class is one of a series of programmes in the channel's Gay Week which starts on February 26th.

"I am happy that this programme has been made as I hope it will shed light on a much ignored issue," he said.

"Homophobia may be banned from our workplaces, but unfortunately it is still rife in the playground.

"I hope the film not only breaks down the average teenager's residual homophobia, but also instills some degree of confidence in those teens currently at school who associate with being LGBTQ, especially those being bullied as I was."

[img2=left]images/news/thelword.jpg[/img2]The race is on to find Miss GayUK, thanks to a lesbian couple from Leicester who have revived the idea for the competition that has not run since 2001.

Inspired by the new image of lesbians presented in popular media such as The L Word, the organisers have launched a search for women with "strength, beauty and ambition".

They feel the need to publicise that: "Lesbian and bisexual women are not all dungaree-wearing, armpit hair-growing, short haired women who favour the smell of their own body odour."

They are looking for a woman who can best represent the "Modern Day Lesbian".

The competition has proved to be so popular that, due to the volume of applications from across the east Midlands, the heat originally called Miss GayLeicester has now been changed to Miss GayEast Midlands.

The final will take place at the Miss GayUK Final in Birmingham at the Nightingale Club on 9th November 2007, where the regional winners of each heat will represent their area.

Miss GayUK hopefuls and fans can apply or find out more at the website online, www.missgayuk.co.uk, or call 07955 859 500.

[img2=left]images/news/channel4.jpg[/img2]Channel 4 will mark the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality this summer with a series of films and documentaries.

Clapham Junction, a film by Kevin Elyot, is expected to generate more headlines for the channel.

It charts the lives of seven gay men over a 36-hour period as they visit Clapham Common in search of sex.

Channel 4 has spend the start of 2007 fending off accusations of condoning racism on Celebrity Big Brother

They are already predicting that Elyot's film is likely to generate more controversy for its explicit portrayals of gay sex and, more importantly, homophobic attacks on the common.

The Common, a notorious cruising ground, is famous for former Wales secretary Ron Davies's "moment of madness" incident in 1998.

Channel 4 will show the film in August as part of a short season to mark the passing of the Sexual Offences Act in 1967, which legalised male homosexual acts in private between two people aged 21 or over.

Then-home secretary Roy Jenkins famously remarked at the time:

"Those who suffer from this disability carry a great weight of shame all their lives."

Elyot's original concept stemmed from the homophobic murder of Jody Dobrowski on the Common in 2005.

The 24-year-old barman was punched and kicked to death by two men in an attack so brutal that his family was unable to identify him.

The channel is expecting controversy over their explicit Clapham Common piece, and the PR offensive has already begun.

Elyot argues that it is essential to portray the lesser-known side of gay lifestyle in 21st century London in a gritty and realistic way.

The director, best known as the author of the Olivier award-winning 1995 play My Night with Reg said:

"Though homosexuality would seem to be more accepted and legitimised through civil partnerships, there still seems to be a disturbing amount of homophobic violence and homophobic attitudes sometimes coming from surprising quarters.

"Liberal legislation doesn't necessarily bring about genuine tolerance."

A series of documentaries is also scheduled, including a dramatic reconstruction of a man being tried in the 1960's for his sexuality.

Liza Marshall, commissioning editor for drama at the station, appeared to misunderstand the nature of the channel's previous groundbreaking gay drama:

"This film will not be fluffy like Queer as Folk because times appear to have changed and gay politics has moved on," she said.

"The rise in homosexual violence is on record and this is Kevin's attempt to address that, his take on what it is like to be gay in London today, which is in many ways very disturbing.

"There has been a real rise in gay bashing but this is also accompanied by civil partnerships and a widespread public acceptance of them - we wanted to explore this conflict."