George Michael blasts crack cocaine claims

Troubled singer George Michael has denied allegations that appeared in the UK’s Sun on Sunday newspaper that he is addicted to crack cocaine.

The allegations were made by Jackie Georgiou, the wife of George’s cousin, Andros. She told the newspaper that Michael had been smoking crack before he checked in to a Swiss rehab clinic.

‘He’d got to the point where he would be shaking, saying: “I need it”.

‘It was pretty dark and things were getting darker. He was going to end up locked up or dead. I’m petrified he will die.’

Michael, who is reported to have a fortune of £100million ($155million/€140million), has made not secret of the fact that he has used illegal drugs.

He has previously spoken about the fact that he enjoys marijuana – once going through a phase of smoking up to 25 spliffs a day – and, in an interview four years ago, said that he had tried crack cocaine.

In 2010, he was sentenced to eight weeks in jail for crashing his Range Rover into a shop-front while under the influence of drugs.

Michael released his last album in March 2014, but since that time has been largely absent from the limelight. A much-talked about dance album that he said he was working on has not materialized.

In May 2014 an ambulance was called to his North London home after claims that he had collapsed

Last month, it was reported that he had entered an expensive Swiss rehab clinic. A spokesperson for the star at first denied that he had entered rehab, but did confirm that he was on an extended break in Europe and had visited Zurich’s Kusnacht facility – which reportedly charges client’s around £190,000 ($295,000/€267,000) a month for treatment.

Georgiou’s claims were strenuously denied by a spokesperson for the star.

‘Whilst it is our general policy not to comment on private matters, we would in this instance note that these highly inaccurate stories have been apparently provided to the press by the wife of a very distant family member, neither of whom has had any dealings with him for many many years.

‘It is therefore unsurprising that they are so incorrect.

‘Beyond this we have no further comment to make as the matter is now in the hands of Mr Michael’s lawyers.’

Michael himself took to Twitter yesterday to also deny the claims, saying in a tweet, ‘To my lovelies, do not believe this rubbish in the papers today by someone I don’t know anymore and haven’t seen for nearly 18 years…’

To my lovelies, do not believe this rubbish in the papers today by someone I don’t know anymore and haven’t seen for nearly 18 years…

— George Michael (@GeorgeMichael) July 12, 2015

Shortly afterwards, he issues another tweet saying, ‘I am perfectly fine and enjoyed Wimbledon like the rest of you. Wish it went to 5 sets though!…’ Later, he retweeted a message from fellow UK singer Sam Smith.

❤️ Listening to my favourite today A photo posted by Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) on Jul 12, 2015 at 6:20am PDT

Love you too @samsmithworld t.co/28WFpCB2f1

— George Michael (@GeorgeMichael) July 12, 2015

Previously a prolific user of social media, these were Michael’s first Twitter messages since he posted a rainbow-colored ‘Live without prejudice’ message on 28 June, to coincide with LGBTI Pride festivals around the world.

The post George Michael blasts crack cocaine claims appeared first on Gay Star News.

David Hudson

www.gaystarnews.com/article/george-michael-blasts-crack-cocaine-claims/

Op-ed: Why We Must (Sometimes) Talk About Violence Against Trans Men

Boys Do Cry: While we must continue putting violence against trans women in the forefront, trans male survivors also need space to speak out.

read more

Mitch Kellaway

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/07/13/op-ed-why-we-must-sometimes-talk-about-violence-against-trans-men

Four youths arrested in India for robbing and killing gay man

The post Four youths arrested in India for robbing and killing gay man appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/four-youths-arrested-in-india-for-robbing-and-killing-gay-man/

Homophobia in Russia worse now than 10 years ago, 41% say authorities should persecute gays

Homophobia in Russia has significantly worsened in the last decade, according to a new survey by state-run pollster VTsIOM.

The proportion of respondents who consider LGBTI people dangerous and said they should be ‘isolated from society’ has grown from 12% in 2004 to 20%.

Some 22% percent said they didn’t care about other people’s sexual orientation, compared with 24% in 2004, while 15% said LGBTI people were ‘normal’ but they wouldn’t socialize with them.

Nearly half of all respondents (41%) said the authorities should persecute people with ‘untraditional sexual preferences’ in order to ‘exterminate the phenomenon,’ while only 12% agreed that the government should protect the LGBTI people from discrimination.

‘In this aspect Russia is about twice as conservative as even China,’ Alexei Firsov, VTsIOM’s communications director, said.

‘It’s interesting that we are swimming against the current, strengthening, despite global trends, intolerance toward homosexual relationships. This indicator might serve as a parameter of national identification.’

Attitudes toward gay marriage have also hardened.

According to the poll, eight in 10 Russians said they were against gay marriage, compared with 59% in 2005. The proportion of of respondents who think gay people should be allowed to marry fell from 14% in 2005 to 8% in 2015.

Only 3% of respondents said LGBTI people should be able to raise children. Another 3% supported gay marriage but said kids should not be brought up in same-sex households.

A small decrease was, however, recorded in the proportion of Russians who think being gay is a medical or social disease, from 36% in 2004 to 35% in 2015.

VTsIOM polled 1,600 Russians in 46 regions between 11-12 April and 4-5 July. The margin of error was no greater than 3.5%.

The post Homophobia in Russia worse now than 10 years ago, 41% say authorities should persecute gays appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/homophobia-in-russia-worse-now-than-10-years-ago-41-say-authorities-should-persecute-gays/