Julie's blog

Los Conejeros is a villa at Faro Park in Playa Blanca, owned by David and offering first class Bed & Breakfast accommodation.

Faro Park is situated at the lighthouse (El Faro) end of the resort, close to the sea front, the centre is approximately 4km away there is a lovely walk along the paseo maritmo (promenade) or the local bus service passes every 30 minutes. There are a selection of shops, bars and restaurants situated in Faro Park offering facilities within a minutes walk.

The bedroom sleeps one to two people complete with its own private shower room, the room is furnished with twin beds, fitted wardrobes and there is a plasma TV for entertainment as well as a WiFi internet connection. The villa has a private heated salt water swimming pool, garden and terrace areas, lounge area, fully fitted kitchen and César Manrique style outdoor dining area.

The rate is €28 per night for one person and €32 for two people sharing, this price includes a continental breakfast. For more information and to check availability please use our enquiry form. David asked us to mention that he does have cats living at the villa although they don't have access to the guest bedroom.

Did you watch Sport Relief on Friday? If not you could have missed the Beckham & Smithy sketch!

David Beckham and British comedian James Corden known as “Smithy” during Sport Relief 2010 posed as a gay couple in a sketch to raise money for the charity event.

Beckham and Smithy are pictured in their bathrobes with Smithy painting David's nails and straightening his hair, followed by some flower arranging. They then appear sharing a bath, David looks very relaxed whilst Smithy reads his autobiography to him. Later they are filmed wearing matching pajamas with each others name on in bed crying whilst watching a video of Kylie Minogue marrying Jason.

This is a classic British comedy sketch and both Beckham and Smithy are fabulous, if you haven't seen it please watch it and don’t forget to make a donation to www.sportrelief.com.

Andrew Leatham moved to Lanzarote 6 years ago. Andrew is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist with a practise in Lanzarote called Reaching Out, offering confidential help and advice.

When we asked Andy how he ended up living in Lanzarote, the answer was - he’s not really sure! Andy first came to Lanzarote on holiday with partner John some years ago, they revisited the island six years ago and six months later they were living here.

Which beaches in Lanzarote are their favourite?

Papagayo beaches, all of them are great for sun, swimming and snorkelling

Playa de Quiquere great for sunbathing, snorkelling and it's quite a cruising spot

Which Lanzarote restaurants would they recommend? 

Puerto del Carmen: Sapporo Teppanyaki, C.C. Matagorda

Costa Teguise: RepiKada, Avenida Islas Canarias

Haría: La Puerta Verde, Calle Fajardo

Any tips or advice for gay & lesbian visitors?

If you’ve gone off Gran Canaria or simply grown up / graduated or in a relationship, why not try Lanzarote. It is definitely for the discerning.

 Monumento al Campesino                                  Jardín de Cactus

Mirador del Río                                                        Jameos del Agua

 Montañas del Fuego                                             Castillo de San José

Cueva de los Verdes

Villa Mateo is a luxury private holiday rental villa situated in Playa Blanca owned by Andy & John.

Playa Blanca is fast earning the reputation of the five star resort of Lanzarote with sophisticated bars & restaurants, the exclusive Marina Rubicón and  wonderful Papagayo beaches. Villa Mateo is situated on El Parque del Rey, these villas are set back from the sea front but in a central position within the resort, its a 10 minute walk to the old harbour and only a few more minutes to the main shopping streets.

This stylish villa is all on one level within a walled plot with private heated pool. There are two bedrooms, one double and one twin, a bathroom, lounge facing the pool, kitchen with electric oven, halogen hob, microwave, fridge/freezer and washing machine. Outside there is a pergola for shaded dining, traditional barbecue and sun loungers to enjoy the pool, terrace and garden area.

Priced from 400 pounds per week based on two sharing, changeover day is flexible, a complimentary welcome pack will be waiting on arrival to help you settle in. For more information about pricing and availability please use our enquiry form.

The first of three GLAAD Media Awards took place in New York on the 13th March 2010. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

The GLAAD Media Awards recognise the media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives. This year is the 21st edition of the annual awards and two further ceremonies are planned in Los Angeles and San Francisco in April and June.

AWARDS PRESENTED ON STAGE

Outstanding Drama Series Brothers and Sisters (ABC)

Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series Prayers for Bobby (Lifetime)

Outstanding TV Journalism Segment "Why Will Won't Pledge Allegiance"  American Morning (CNN)

Outstanding Digital Journalism Article Two-Way Tie:

"'We Love You, This Won't Change a Thing'" by John Buccigross (ESPN.com)

"Why Can't You Just Butch Up? Gay Men, Effeminacy, and Our War with Ourselves" by Brent Hartinger (AfterElton.com)

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE AWARDS ANNOUNCED IN NEW YORK

Outstanding Film-Limited Release: Little Ashes (Regent Releasing)

Outstanding Individual Episode: "Pawnee Zoo" Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Outstanding Daily Drama: One Life to Live (ABC)

Outstanding Talk Show Episode: "Ellen DeGeneres and Her Wife, Portia de Rossi" The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated)

Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: "Uganda Be Kidding Me" (series) The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)

Outstanding Newspaper Article: "Kept From a Dying Partner's Bedside" by Tara Parker-Pope (The New York Times)

Outstanding Newspaper Columnist: Frank Rich (The New York Times)

Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: The New York Times

Outstanding Magazine Article: "Coming Out in Middle School" by Benoit Denizet-Lewis (The New York Times Magazine)

Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate

Outstanding Comic Book: Detective Comics by Greg Rucka (DC Comics)

Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off–Broadway: A Boy and His Soul by Colman Domingo

Outstanding New York Theater: Off–Off Broadway: She Like Girls by Chisa Hutchinson

SPANISH-LANGUAGE AWARDS ANNOUNCED IN NEW YORK

Outstanding Novela: Más Sabe el Diablo (Telemundo)

Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Episode: "Adopción gay: un tema muy controversial" Paparazzi TV Sensacional (MegaTV)

Outstanding Talk Show Interview: "Realidades de ser gay en la tercera edad" El Show de Cristina (Univision)

Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: TIE:

"En el cuerpo equivocado" Primer Impacto (Univision) &

"Damas gracias: Entrevista con Eva Leivas-Andino" Al Rojo Vivo (Telemundo)

Outstanding Newspaper Article: "Mas familias de dos papás o dos mamas" by Pilar Marrero (La Opinión)

Outstanding Magazine Article: "Del odio a la justicia" by Lena Hansen (People en Español)

Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: "Saliendo del clóset: Cómo enfrentarlo en familia" by Fernanda Martínez(Univision.com)

Nearly four years after the final episode of Will & Grace, actor Sean Hayes who plays Jack in the series confirms that he is gay in an interview with The Advocate. On the verge of his Broadway debut the revival of the 1968 musical Promises, Sean chats with Ari Karpel over lunch at the Italian restaurant Marino Ristorante in Los Angeles.

Sean Hayes Interview - The Advocate

For some it’s no surprise that Sean is gay after playing over the top gay character Jack for eight years, but this is the first open interview on the subject since a brush with press over his sexuality, not wanting to jeopardize his career the standard answer was always:

“When I play a gay character I want to be as believable as possible. And when I’m playing a straight character I also want to be as believable as possible. So the less that people know about my personal life, the more believable I can be as a character.”

It was following his performance in the gay romantic comedy film Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss that he was spotted and asked to audition for Will & Grace.

LÁNZATE hace, en el 8 de Marzo, una llamada de atención a la exclusión de las mujeres transexuales

En el Año para TRANS-formar se pone especial énfasis en las reivindicaciones de un colectivo especialmente vulnerable según la UE

[07/03/10] Las mujeres transexuales, bisexuales y lesbianas integrantes de la FELGTB (federación a la que pertenece LÁNZATE) han elegido el Día Internacional de las Mujeres, 8 de marzo, para reivindicar sus derechos y exigir el fin de la discriminación por orientación sexual o identidad de género, que se une al machismo imperante en nuestra sociedad. Ellas exigen apoyos en visibilidad para normalizar su realidad: un instrumento clave para alcanzar la plena igualdad.

Este 2010, Año para TRANS-formar para LÁNZATE que se centra en las reivindicaciones de las personas trans, ponen el acento en las mujeres transexuales en busca de la solidaridad y el compromiso de las instituciones públicas y privadas, también de los medios de comunicación, para luchar contra la transfobia y también contra la homofobia y la bifobia.

Las mujeres transexuales representan, según la Unión Europea, uno de los colectivos con mayor riesgo de exclusión social y pobreza. La discriminación a la que se enfrentan en su día a día está multiplicada por su doble condición de mujeres y de personas trans, lo que lleva a tasas de hasta el 70% de desempleo y en el caso de estar empleadas, están condenadas al trabajo en precario.

Es por ello que desde LÁNZATE se reclama la atención a los siguientes puntos:

- La educación es una herramienta clave para luchar contra el sexismo y el machismo, fuentes de las que beben la transfobia, la homofobia y la bifobia. Por ello reclamamos el fomento de una educación libre de prejuicios y que trabaje la diversidad afectivo-sexual, lo que sirve para aumentar la comprensión y respeto, garantizando la igualdad de condiciones sin marginación, tanto del alumnado como del personal docente.

- En el ámbito laboral proponemos que se garantice el acceso al empleo de estas personas en igualdad de oportunidades y que se sensibilice a sindicatos y empresarios para evitar discriminaciones.

- Que se implementen políticas de integración social y laboral para las mujeres transexuales.

- Que las mujeres transexuales que aún no han registrado su cambio de nombre y de sexo sean tratadas como el resto de las mujeres a la hora de acceder a los recursos públicos, como pueden ser aquellos destinados a víctimas de violencia de género o a las mujeres que se encuentran en situación de privación de libertad, etc.

- Demandamos que las personas inmigrantes puedan optar a la rectificación del nombre y sexo en sus documentos provisionales de identificación en España.

- Que la discriminación por identidad de género sea agravante de delito, como lo es la que hace referencia al sexo o la orientación sexual de la víctima.

- Que desde los medios de comunicación se de un trato respetuoso y objetivo de la transexualidad sin fomentar los estereotipos que contribuyen a la estigmatización del colectivo.

- Un sistema sanitario acorde con las necesidades específicas de mujeres transexuales, lesbianas y bisexuales. Reclamamos también que todas mujeres transexuales reciban los mismos recursos ofrecidos por las distintas unidades de referencia con independencia de la comunidad autónoma en la que residan.

- Una identidad de género femenina libre de todo concepto estereotipado. Manifestamos una concepción más amplia de la transexualidad no ceñida a los criterios psiquiátricos que constriñen y etiquetan las diversas vivencias y que deciden sobre qué es ser mujer. De la misma manera instamos a no confundir los conceptos de identidad con los de orientación: una mujer transexual puede ser heterosexual, lesbiana o bisexual.

Event: Photographic Exhibition"Criaturas de la isla"

Artist: Suzet Ávila

Venue: Bodegas Rubicón, La Geria, Lanzarote

Date: 27 February – 27 March 2010

Time: Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00

Entry: Free

Web: www.exposicionesbodegasrubicon.blogspot.com & www.vinosrubicon.com

Details: Suzet Ávila’s photos show the cultural diversity of people passing though the streets of Havana, Cuba. The portfolio was taken during 2009 and includes photography of children as adults, whites as blacks, women as men and civilians as military.

Marc Nixon and Sandy Aitchison moved to Lanzarote six months ago with the help of Estupendo and opened their café bar La Perla Rosa in the prestigious marina Puerto Calero. Although fairly new to Lanzarote they are no strangers to Spain having previously lived in Gran Canaria for ten years and spent time on the mainland too.

The couple moved to Lanzarote for a quieter pace of life after living each day to the full for the past twenty years. Back in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria Marc & Sandy owned a bar restaurant with evening drag shows and fondly remember those years when tourists used to eat out every evening, before self catering and all inclusive options were introduced.

After leaving Gran Canaria they moved back to Scotland where Sandy hails from and opened a hotel in Fort William, business was good but it was missing something, the boys then moved to a restaurant in Stirling again something was still afoot and it  finally dawned on them - it was the difference of living in the UK! Recognising the missing ingredient they jetted off back to the sunshine but this time to the mainland of Spain, where they ran a restaurant until they took a year out and decided the Canary Islands was the place for them, they just had to decide which one! Marc fancied Fuerteventura as they had holidayed there and Sandy preferred Lanzarote (thanks Sandy!).

Marc is the trained chef and there are some truly mouthwatering options on offer with a selection of breakfasts, cakes, pastries, light lunches and tapas. I was very tempted by the English Afternoon Tea including pot of tea, salmon and cucumber sandwiches followed by homemade scones with jam and cream, but then there was such a diverse menu including hot and spicy tapas, fresh salads, delicious quiche, chocolate fudge cake, deep apple pie – the only solution is to keep returning until I’ve worked my way through the entire menu.

All food and drink is served by Sandy and the banter between the two of them and their customers is great. At the moment the café bar is open from 10am to 6pm but with summer time and warmer evenings just around the corner La Perla Rosa will be the perfect place for a sundowner or two. There is a free WiFi service for customers and a selection of indoor and outdoor seating with shade or sunshine available.

Café La Perla Rosa is also a place for networking, both Marc and Sandy know that the only gay bar advertised in Lanzarote is Black & White in Puerto del Carmen, but if you want a warm welcome and a slower pace of life you know where to head to! The guys have also kindly offered their premises for the first  Intercambio in April, where Spanish and English locals will meet to exchange conversation and improve their foreign language skills.

Café La Perla Rosa…..¡Al Gusto!