closeUp ‣ The Gayly Mirror

Santa’s Gay Love is what we all need for Christmas

25Nov

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Culture, News, Society

Santa’s Gay Love is what we all need for Christmas

Santa Claus pictured in a gay-love relationship in this heartwarming Norwegian tv spot, and marks 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Norway (1972). The Norwegians Postal Services this year decided that yes, they wanted to promote their (apparently very reliable and on time) services, but they also wanted to touch the heart of millions of people… and not only in Norway. The clip depicts the developing and always stronger relationship between Santa Claus and another man, who he visits each Christmas over a number of years. https://youtu.be/tyQ6qD-u-J8 The clip is impressive, not only because it pictures Santa Claus in love with a man, but because it also touches themes which are very delicate and too many times left unspoken, such as loneliness and that feelin...

Switzerland announces dates for the first same-sex weddings in the country

18Nov

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, News, Society

Switzerland announces dates for the first same-sex weddings in the country

After the life-changing referendum in the country, Switzerland announced that same-sex weddings will take place from 1st July 2022. You will surely remember the great victory of that 64.1% of voters that wanted equal rights for the Swiss population, and now, the government finally announced that the first same-sex weddings in the country will start to be celebrated from 1st July 2022. We do have to remember though, that since 2007, the country has allowed civil partnerships for same-sex couples. This big change in the constitution of the country, will also mean that same-sex couples will be allowed adopt children together, that was only restricted to straigh-married-couples in Switzerland before this law. The Swiss Government also announced that starting on 1st January 2022, Sw...

UK: the NHS announces a game-changing HIV treatment injected just six times a year for all patients.

18Nov

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Health, News, Society

UK: the NHS announces a game-changing HIV treatment injected just six times a year for all patients.

A new long-lasting injectable treatment is approved for use in the United Kingdom, and this could really improve the lives of those living with HIV. Could this be called a “liberation” from the daily tablet(s) treatment HIV patients are used to so far? Just today, in the UK, the NHS has been given the go-ahead to roll out injections taken every two months to manage the virus: results for this research were announced back in December 2020 here. The new treatment approved by England and Wales’ National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium today, is a combination of two jabs taken every two months: this could actually help to ease the emotional burden of having to take daily tablets (1 to 4 generally) and something like 13,000 people w...

18Nov

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Eurovision

Måneskin defend Eurovision Song Contest

Anni-Frid Lyngstad - ABBA - admits she’s no longer a fan of Eurovision, but Måneskin can’t be bothered from her comment. Fronted by Damiano David, Maneskin have become one of the most popular Eurovision contestants in recent years, with their success extending beyond the competition and turning the band into worldwide success. They’ve recently rocked at the MTv’s EMAs and they can’t seem to stop. On the other hand, Abba’s singer Anni-Frid recently said she feels that the competition has changed a lot since her legendary pop group got propelled to superstardom after winning Eurovision in 1974. Damiano, interviewed during the MTV EMAs in Budapest - Hungary, said: “I think that everything changes with time so we have to deal with it – and we like it actually.” And Victoria De Angelis...

ABBA said their last goodbyes with “Voyage”

15Nov

By JorgeNo Comments

closeUp, Culture, Eurovision

ABBA said their last goodbyes with “Voyage”

The Swedish iconic band ABBA, Eurovision 1974 winners with "Waterloo", released a last studio album called "Voyage", after almost 40 years had passed. Voyage features the sort of tunes one would expected from ABBA: catchy dance pop tracks, mixing with a few emotional romantic ballads. However, as they got older, also did their register, as you can feel that this work shows a more mature version of the band. "Don't Shut Me Down", "Just a Notion" and "I Still Have Faith in You" are some of singles you can listen from probably the greatest and most surprising comeback of all-time in pop industry. Their album already broke records and went straight to UK TOP 10! You can feel and join their revival journey through the Voyage digital concert series which will run 6 nights a week from May ...

6Nov

By rebeccaNo Comments

closeUp, Culture, Entertainment

Film recommendation: Ammonite

Ammonite, the second feature from Francis Lee (God’s Own Country) is now available on Amazon Prime and is a gentle yet harsh, deep and earthy yet sensual film which merits more than one viewing. In 1840s Dorset, self-taught fossil-hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) is now in her 40s, ignored by the (male) scientific world, reduced to selling her finds to tourists to support herself and her ailing mother (Gemma Jones). Pompous Londoner Roderick Murchison entrusts his wife Charlotte (Saoirse Ronan) to Anning’s tutelage, to distract Charlotte from her depression after what we surmise to be the loss of a baby. Initially Anning is resentful of this soft Londoner, trying to befriend her across a social chasm and despite their very different personalities. But when Charlotte falls ill and Ma...

Fado Bicha, Portuguese queer project, amongst the songwriters for Festival da Canção 2022

5Nov

By JorgeNo Comments

closeUp, Eurovision, Gay Pride

Fado Bicha, Portuguese queer project, amongst the songwriters for Festival da Canção 2022

The Portuguese broadcaster RTP released yesterday the full list of names of the 20 competing sonwriters for Festival da Canção, the national selecion of Portugal for the Eurovision Song Contest. There are 16 invited songwriters and 4 others who advanced via public submission and were chosen by RTP. Agir Aurea Blacci Cubita DJ Marfox Fábia Rebordão Fado Bicha FF Joana Espadinha Kumpania Algazarra Maro Norton Os Azeitonas PZ Syro Valas Fado Bicha definitely excited us seeing as they are a musical, performative and activist project in Portugal and a big representation of the LGBTQI+ community. They are Lila Fadista (voice & lyrics) and João Caçador (instruments and arrangements). Mixing up Fado and traditional roots with modern arr...

Who could the Hosts be for Eurovision 2022?

30Oct

By JorgeNo Comments

closeUp, Eurovision

Who could the Hosts be for Eurovision 2022?

The next edition of Eurovision Song Contest is getting closer day by day and rumours have already started about who might be the hosts of the contest this year, at PalaOlimpico Stadium, in Turin. A name that had early emerged as a potential host and shocked the Eurovision community was the the famous Lebanese-British singer, MIKA. The artist behind hits such as "Grace Kelly" or "Take it Easy" had worked in Italy for a few years now, as one of the judges of X Factor. However, MIKA's management had recently denied all the rumours that he could eventually be one of the hosts. The singer is not known for having a very positive view over Eurovision, so that outcome doesn't come as a surprise for the fan community. Another name that had emerged is the one and only Senhit. Even though hav...

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK S3: the weakest ever seen until now.

29Oct

By RaffaNo Comments

closeUp, Entertainment, Reviews

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK S3: the weakest ever seen until now.

The third series of RuPaul’s Drag Rage UK is airing on BBC every Thursday evening, but we all have the feeling that this is not the best that British Drag Scene can offer. After such a strong a second series, with characters like Lawrence Chaney, Tia Kofi and Veronica Green (back in season 3 because of Covid), we were all expecting to watch a levelled-up new series of the most loved and lasting tv reality-show that celebrates the art of Drag Queens… and instead… we feel we’ve been let down. Saving just a little group of the queens competing this year in RuPaul’s Drag Rage UK, namely Choriza May, Veronica Green, Ella Vaday, all the others really lack in personality and uniqueness. Every new episode the viewer has the feeling that there is some magic which is missing to this show: wh...

Italy: protesters in the streets to support ZAN Anti Homotransphobia Bill

29Oct

By Raffa1 Comment

closeUp, News, Politics, Society

Italy: protesters in the streets to support ZAN Anti Homotransphobia Bill

The Italian LGTB+ population and that huge majority of Italians that love and want Civil Rights for all, started a huge protest after Zan Bill got stopped during its run to become a law. Zan Bill - Anti Homotransphobia - had already been bounced, delayed and longly discussed before getting completely stopped two days ago in the Italian Senate, and unfortunately the images we saw of that vote, were images that could only belong to a nation of troglodytes. But Italy is not the country that those fascist political parties want to picture: Italy is a nation of good-hearted and civil people that have detached themselves from the politics long ago, and that show huge support to LGBT+ rights. From TV hosts to the Streets of the major cities, peaceful but impacting protests and messages have s...