Erling Haaland’s name was used in a fake Pride controversy, showing how anti-LGBTQ misinformation spreads

admin
-
0
Erling Haaland’s name was used in a fake Pride controversy, showing how anti-LGBTQ misinformation spreads

Erling Haaland is one of the most famous footballers in the world, and that makes his name extremely useful to people trying to make a story go viral.

The Norwegian striker is currently enjoying another major career moment after scoring the late goal that helped Norway beat Ivory Coast and reach the last 16 of the World Cup.

That success has put Haaland back at the center of global football conversation.

It also makes an earlier viral claim about him worth revisiting.

A few months ago, social media posts began circulating that claimed Haaland had refused to participate in Premier League Pride activities.

Some posts alleged that he had refused to wear a rainbow armband.

Others attributed a quote to him saying that football should be about “goals, team spirit and performances” rather than “politics or social movements.”

There is no credible evidence that Haaland ever made that statement.

The claim does not appear to have come from reputable sports reporting, Manchester City, the Norwegian national team, or Haaland himself.

Instead, it spread through engagement-driven social media pages, parody-style accounts and posts designed to turn LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport into a culture-war argument.

The false story landed in a climate where Pride campaigns in football were already being debated.

The Premier League ended its long-running partnership with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign before moving toward its own LGBTQ+ inclusion work.

Reuters reported at the time that the league had not banned rainbow armbands or laces, despite viral posts claiming otherwise.

That distinction matters because misinformation often works by mixing a real development with a false personal accusation.

In this case, the real development was the changing structure of Premier League inclusion campaigns.

The false claim was that Haaland had personally rejected Pride support and made an anti-LGBTQ statement.

There is no solid evidence for that claim.

For LGBTQ+ readers and football fans, the story is a reminder to be careful with viral screenshots, especially when they involve celebrities or athletes supposedly making inflammatory statements.

Famous names generate attention, and attention can quickly become outrage.

Haaland may be making headlines for Norway on the pitch, but this particular Pride controversy appears to belong in a different category.

It was not a football story.

It was a misinformation story.

📷 Norges Fotballforbund

🎥 Prefer video?

Follow B-Gay on YouTube for daily LGBTQ+ celebrity stories and Shorts.

Turkey blocks Atlantis gay cruise from docking

admin
-
0
Turkey blocks Atlantis gay cruise from docking

Thousands of LGBTQ+ travelers preparing for one of the world’s best-known gay cruises have unexpectedly seen their itinerary change after Turkey refused to allow the ship to dock.

The Atlantis Events Mediterranean cruise, sailing aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, was due to visit both Kuşadası and Istanbul during its voyage from Athens to Venice.

Authorities in Turkey’s Aydın Province canceled the planned stop, saying the chartered group represented behaviour that was incompatible with the country’s moral values (Instinct).

As a result, the cruise has replaced its Turkish ports with new stops in Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete.

Atlantis Events CEO Rich Campbell described the decision as unprecedented.

He said it is the first time in the company’s 36-year history that one of its cruises has been explicitly refused entry because it serves LGBTQ+ travelers.

Campbell also stressed that Atlantis is not a political organisation and that guests simply wanted to enjoy local attractions, restaurants and culture.

Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who is scheduled to perform during the voyage, reacted by saying she was “furious” but confirmed she will still join the cruise and perform for guests.

The decision comes amid continued concerns about LGBTQ+ rights in Turkey, where Pride events have faced increasing restrictions in recent years.

Although the destinations have changed, the voyage itself will continue as planned.

📷 IG: @atlantisevents

🎥 Prefer video?

Follow B-Gay on YouTube for daily LGBTQ+ celebrity stories and Shorts.

Mark Foster reflects on decades of hiding his sexuality in new autobiography

admin
-
0
Mark Foster reflects on decades of hiding his sexuality in new autobiography

For most sports fans, Mark Foster was one of Britain’s greatest swimmers.

To himself, however, he says he was living two completely different lives.

In his new autobiography My Double Life, Foster reflects on the emotional burden of hiding his sexuality throughout much of his elite sporting career.

The former swimmer became one of Britain’s most decorated athletes during a career spanning more than two decades.

He competed at five Olympic Games, won six World Championship titles, collected 11 European titles and broke eight world records.

Despite those achievements, Foster says he spent years carefully separating his public image from his private life.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast to mark the publication of his book, he recalled first recognising his attraction to men when he was around 10 years old after watching Sean Connery in a James Bond film.

When family members laughed at his comments, Foster says he quickly decided those feelings needed to disappear.

That decision shaped much of his adult life.

Although he had long-term relationships with men away from the spotlight, he kept his personal life almost entirely separate from his sporting career.

He describes creating two identities: one for competition and another for home.

Foster publicly came out in 2017 at the age of 47 after years of media speculation about his sexuality.

He later explained that many of the people closest to him already knew, but making that part of his life public still felt daunting.

Today, Foster hopes his autobiography will encourage conversations about the pressures LGBTQ+ athletes can still face, particularly in elite sport where expectations around masculinity have often discouraged openness.

He says the book is ultimately about freedom rather than regret.

Looking back, Foster believes success in sport did not erase the emotional cost of hiding such an important part of himself.

His story offers a reminder that even athletes standing on the world’s biggest stages can carry private struggles that remain invisible to everyone else.

Want to read Mark Foster’s full story? His autobiography, My Double Life, is available here.

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link. If you buy through it, B-Gay may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Family and friends remember Zafar Mawani and Guillermo Ortiz after their deaths in Mexico

admin
-
0
Family and friends remember Zafar Mawani and Guillermo Ortiz after their deaths in Mexico

Zafar Mawani and Guillermo Ortiz are being remembered as loving partners, devoted family members, and generous friends after authorities confirmed they were among four people found in a mass grave outside Mexico City.

The couple disappeared on May 20 after leaving home to complete the purchase of a stairlift for Mawani’s mother, who had recently suffered a stroke (Them).

According to investigators, they were expected to meet the sellers before suddenly losing contact with friends and relatives.

Their disappearance prompted an extensive search involving Mexican authorities and support from family members in both Mexico and the United States.

On June 17, investigators discovered four bodies buried in a wooded area in Ocoyoacac, west of Mexico City.

Mawani’s family later confirmed that he and Ortiz were among those who had been identified.

Authorities have arrested seven suspects in connection with the investigation, and officials say some of those arrested directed investigators to the burial site.

At the time of writing, prosecutors have not publicly announced a motive for the killings, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Mawani’s family described him as someone who cared deeply for others and who remained especially devoted to his mother throughout her illness.

Friends also remembered the couple for their warmth, kindness, and shared love of travel, food, and building a life together.

The two had recently relocated to Mexico, where they hoped to begin a new chapter together.

Their deaths have prompted an outpouring of grief across LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in Chicago, where Mawani had deep roots.

The case has also drawn renewed attention to the broader problem of disappearances and organized criminal violence in parts of Mexico, where thousands of families continue searching for missing loved ones each year.

While investigators continue working to establish exactly what happened, friends and relatives say they want Zafar and Guillermo to be remembered not for the way they died, but for the lives they lived together.

For those who knew them, they leave behind a legacy of love, compassion, and the lasting impact they had on everyone fortunate enough to call them family or friend.

Netflix shares emotional new look at Heartstopper Forever ahead of July premiere

admin
-
0
Netflix shares emotional new look at Heartstopper Forever ahead of July premiere

Netflix has released a fresh collection of behind-the-scenes photos from Heartstopper Forever, offering fans an emotional preview of the film’s Leavers’ Ball sequence.

The images arrive just weeks before the highly anticipated finale premieres on July 17.

The photographs feature Kit Connor and Joe Locke alongside the returning ensemble cast dressed for one final school celebration.

The Leavers’ Ball marks an important turning point as the characters prepare to leave behind one chapter of their lives and begin another.

Heartstopper Forever concludes the screen adaptation of Alice Oseman’s bestselling graphic novels after three acclaimed seasons.

The story follows Nick Nelson as he prepares to leave for university while Charlie Spring remains at Truham Grammar School.

The couple must confront the challenges of maintaining a long-distance relationship while navigating the uncertainty that comes with growing up.

Their close-knit group of friends is also facing life-changing decisions about love, identity, education, and the future.

Alongside Connor and Locke, the film reunites fan favourites including Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan, Rhea Norwood, Jenny Walser, Bradley Riches and Leila Khan.

Creator Alice Oseman once again wrote the screenplay and has described the film as an exploration of time, memory, endings, beginnings, and the ordinary moments that define young love.

The newly released images capture both the glamour of the Leavers’ Ball and the warmth that has made the series beloved by audiences around the world.

Since debuting in 2022, Heartstopper has earned widespread praise for its hopeful portrayal of LGBTQ+ teenagers and its thoughtful handling of themes including coming out, mental health, friendship, and family.

The series has also become one of Netflix’s most celebrated queer productions, winning multiple awards while introducing a new generation of viewers to Nick and Charlie’s story.

Although fans have known for some time that the story would conclude with a feature-length film rather than another season, the latest photos are a poignant reminder that the farewell is now just around the corner.

For many viewers, saying goodbye to these characters may prove every bit as emotional as the story itself.

📷: IG @netflix

🎥 Prefer video?

Follow B-Gay on YouTube for daily LGBTQ+ celebrity stories and Shorts.

123...282Page 1 of 282