Netflix was first to the market with their streaming service, but its programming is not exactly comprehensive. LGBT audiences are stuck with a limited and aging selection of films that don’t really represent the true range of the queer experience.

That’s why Amazon and Here TV partnered up with a new service where you’ll find a breadth of gay, lesbian and transgender-oriented films, series, docs and shorts that run the great gamut of our experience. Trust us — there’s a lot to watch. So, we’ve compiled a short list of some of the best flicks you won’t find anywhere else to get you started. (Psst. Amazon Prime members can watch all they want for free for the first 7 days. Let the binge-watching begin!)

Remarkable Shades of Gay

An anthology of nine short films directed by William Branden Blinn, this is like a tasting menu of the gay experience, from hilariously awkward threesomes, to the struggles of gay parenting, to erotically charged locker room brawls.

Proceeds go to the Rainbow Fund and the Pride Social Impact fund

Brighton Pride has exceeded its fundraising target for 2016 – just like last year.

In fact, this year’s LGBTI festival raised £100,000 [$131,808, €117,192 ] for local causes. What’s more, this equates to a total of £300k over the last three years, say organizers.

In a statement, Brighton Pride director Paul Kemp said he’s thrilled with the result. Additionally, he said:

In this technological age, cyber relationships have become a normal thing to hear about. With most of the world being connected on social media, gay guys especially have developed their own online personalities. Everything we are and everything we do becomes data. It was just a matter of time before guys around the globe found each other, but can online boyfriends truly last?

As someone who finds it hard to be in a long distance relationship, I can’t imagine what it’s like being separated by cyber space with only pictures and instant messaging to connect us. But this generation is used to having everything digital, even love. You’d be surprised how many gay guys I’ve spoken with who claim to have fallen in love with a man through his profile alone.

There have been countless stories of “catfishing,” a term used when a person sets up a fake profile and starts a romantic relationship with someone. But despite these numbers, I’ve also known many people who have had successful cyber relationships.
One of them happens to be a good friend of mine who met her Polish fiance on Instagram. Are we entering a new age of cyber love or have we become desperate love-seekers eager to find love anywhere we can?

I have to admit… online boyfriends do seem practical. They offer us something most physical boyfriends don’t by making emotional bonding more important than sex. In most of the relationships I’ve been in, sex was one of the top priorities. When two men are in a relationship it’s obvious that our bodies become a major source of bonding. This is impossible to achieve when you’re separated by a state or country.

BlueSystem claims an estimated 100,000 page views a day. Now it’s banned throughout the country.

Russia’s gay-banning frenzy continues. It’s putting pressure on LGBT people all across the country, stopping them from marching, and even pushing some back toward the closet.

Russian hardliners like to claim that homosexuality is an “evil” sent to Russia from the West to reduce the already declining population. But until recently, the internet remained a safe space for Russian homosexuals, and online dating services grew increasingly popular, even in the most provincial towns.

Earlier this year, a court in the little town of Parabel in Siberia, without any warning or explanation, decided to ban BlueSystem, one of Russia’s most popular LGBT websites.

Grindr, Blued and BoyAhoy are among the many apps to be blocked in the country

Indonesia has decided to ban Grindr, Blued, BoyAhoy and dozens other LGBT websites and apps.

As reported previously, the Indonesian government started looking into banning gay dating appsin the country after exposing an alleged ‘gay prostitution ring.’

The decision for the ban was made clear last week during a closed-door meeting among government officials, according to BuzzFeed.

Dating can be complicated, but only because we overthink everything. For decades, we’ve been training ourselves on how to be attractive physically, yet fail to teach ourselves how to be attractivepsychologically.
I’ve done some research into the matter (you’re welcome) and have uncovered some interesting studies – both scientific and psychological – that may help you in your dating ventures. It certainly helped me! Take a peek and test them out. You might surprise yourself.

1. Ask outside the box questions.

It’s a bit difficult when on a date not to go into rehearsed dialogue – “What’s your job?” “How many brothers and sisters do you have?” “Where are you from originally?” These are typical questions we’ve become used to asking, but trust me when I say DON’T; at least not just yet. One study has shown that rehearsed lines had a negative effect on a date – so this theory is backed up by science, ya’ll!

It’s important to pull him out of his comfort zone, and the best way to do that is by making him think. Make a deal with yourself to only ask about things you’re genuinely and authentically interested in – make it about him. While you might wonder if he’s an only child or not, you’ll always find that out in due time. During the whole get to know him process, ask him things like, “Have you ever wanted a sibling?” Find common interests and grow from there: “I’ve never been to Italy either! Which city would you rather visit: Venice or Rome?” “You like to cook? I’m actually awful. What was the best dish you’ve ever made?”

2. Watch where you’re staring.

I’ve been on dates where guys have been a bit too creepy with the eyes. I catch them gazing at my arms or my crotch, or, alternatively, one of my insecure spots like my receding hair line or weird birth mark on my neck. Be aware of where your eyes are going – your date isn’t stupid. He also has eyes, which means he saw you looking at whatever it is you thought he missed. Eye contact is important, but, according to studies, no longer than seven seconds. Anything longer than that is a bit creepy. Your eyes are important, make sure they’re pointing at what truly matters.

3. Have a healthy dose of narcissism.

One psychology study reinforced previous research showing that narcissists are more popular than others, literally at first site. The initial appeal is hard to resist for the most part. Physical attractiveness is often automatically associated with a host of other positive traits – a phenomenon known as the “halo effect.” People with exploitive personalities are more effective at creating confidence and humor, but it always tends to decline over time once the observer starts putting two and two together – usually after several weeks. That’s when they start to get avoided. When on a date, let your heart be as big as Texas, but allow yourself to be mysterious and alluring as a vampire or villain. Trust me, it’s only temporary but it’s magical.

U.K-Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, has come out as gay, making him the first member of the British royal family to do so.

Mountbatten came out in an interview with the U.K.'s Mail on Sunday,introducing his partner, airline cabin services director James Coyle. He offered an interview to the paper because various media outlets were looking into his personal life.

Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, says he has found love with airline executive James Coyle.

You are made of LOVE

I used to think I was only worth what society told me I was. When I felt judged I instantly made it personal, dissecting the reasons why and ultimately burying myself in a cave of self-pity. But then something happened.

I realized the world read my value by observing my self-worth. When I felt worthless, the world took it at face value-that’s what they saw and it’s how they associated me. As humans we take a lot of our value from what people think of us, so as a result of their association, we assume their opinion is the truth when in actuality it began with us all along.

Raise our self-worth -> Raise our value.
Sometimes we have to do the work ourselves. We need to define who we are and know how valuable we truly are without needing to look at society. From then on, everything falls into place. It’s a never-ending circle that starts and ends with our own views of ourselves. Here’s how we can start raising our worth:

Remind yourself what it is they (the world) are dealing with. You’re not just anyone. You’re You. Stop comparing yourself to other people who might look different, sound different, feel different; the fact that you are original and unique is always going to work in your favor. You aren’t an every day run-of-the-mill kind of guy-you’re special. You got IT.

Give yourself something to accomplish so you’ll feel accomplished once it’s complete. In other words make projects, think of ideas, predict the future for yourself, come up with goals and actually try to achieve them. The simple act of working towards something makes you feel fulfilled, ultimately turning insecurity into pride.

U.S. Rep. Steve King, one of the most antigay members of Congress, can’t be bothered with the facts when it comes to LGBT parents.
King, an Iowa Republican, today voiced support for the plan for assistance with child care put forth by his party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump, because it will encourage more people to have children. But King made clear who he thinks should be having kids.

Congressman Steve King

When Chris Cuomo asked on CNN’s New Day if King would be comfortable with the aid going to all families, including those with LGBT parents, the congressman responded, “I want to respect all people, but I want to promote the natural family, Chris, and I think that’s the most wholesome thing that we can do.” Cuomo then pressed him to define the “natural family,” and King said, “The natural family is a man and woman joined together hopefully in holy matrimony blessed by God with children.”

Surprises on reality television are so cheap and common these days that most new twists and turns generate little more than a cynical chuckle from seasoned viewers. So when word leaked out in May that the Bravo cable network was producing a new dating-themed reality series about a gay bachelor choosing the perfect boyfriend from among 15 eligible men, it sounded like simply a queer take on a preexisting idea.
But in a move worthy of Joe Millionaire, Boy Meets Boy takes the surprise factor one step further, because neither the "leading man" nor his best gal pal nor all of the 15 potential boyfriends - called "mates" - know that sprinkled among them are some heterosexual contestants. Initial reaction has been polarized, with one overriding question: Will this be a groundbreaking potrayal of gay romance on television or a sordid example of setting up gays as the butt of one big, degrading prank?

"In some ways, [Boy Meets Boy] has the potential to kind of subvert the whole notion of how people conceive of lesbians and gay men," observed Stephen Tropiano, author of The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV, who sees the show as a natural outgrowth of gays' presence in television."

A new study has explored how gay men change their behavior and clothing to avoid negative reactions from co-workers.

A sociologist at the University of Cincinnati has spoken about the results of study into gay men and body language at work.

Travis Dean Speice wanted to find out if gay men modify their body language or clothing in the workplace to avoid being seen as ‘too gay’. He interviewed 30 men – primarily based in the Midwest – to talk about notions of masculinity, gayness and their job roles.

‘Although there is no hard, fast rule for general masculinity, there are lots of anxieties related to identity management and self presentation for gay men in many professional settings,’ he said in a press statement about the findings.

‘From the initial interview to moving up the ladder at work, if a gay man feels his supervisors don’t agree with a gay population, he may not want to reveal his sexuality to them.

‘Instead he may test the waters with a variety of strategies, including managing the way he dresses, the way he talks and whether or not he decides to disclose his sexuality to the people at work.’

He said that some gay men present what they feel is a more masculine version of themselves at work.

‘This happens when they don’t feel safe being themselves around certain supervisors or co-workers.

‘While many gay men have careers where they are respected and accepted for being themselves, several others feel that they have to hide, modify or conceal their behavioral characteristics and speak, act and dress more “professionally”.’

However, he says ‘professionally’ in this sense translates as ‘more masculine.’

‘Many of my participants discussed not wanting to be inauthentic, but not wanting their sexuality to affect their job status’

He says that some gay men avoided wearing certain bright colors from a fear of being labeled flamboyant.

Speice highlighted one respondent who typically used ‘wild hand gestures’, but who concluded that toning down his gestures was equivalent to ‘butching up’.

‘He felt it was less of a masculine/feminine thing and more of an intimidation issue where he doesn’t always get to be relaxed in his personality at work.’

Speice told GSN that although he didn’t specifically ask the respondents if their behaviour at work caused them anxiety, ‘some men did tell me about the discomfort they experience while at work – especially if they are closeted at work, but not in other areas of their life.

Handsome boyfriends Karl and Daan, known for their fun blog karlisworld, in 12 adorable pics.

They describe it as love at first sight.

And three-and-a-half years after meeting at a Berlin nightclub, German-born Karl and ginger-haired Dutchman Daan are still going strong.

What’s more, together, they’re achieving one of their mutual dreams: seeing the world. 

Now living in their dream home in Amsterdam, the boyfriends are known for their popular gay travel blog karlisworld.com.

As single men it’s easy getting guys to look at our bodies, but to get a guy hooked on us is a whole other equation. It requires more than showing a bit of skin. We need to get under his skin to tickle his fancy in ways he might never have imagined before. And trust me, it’s easier than you think…

Before we get started, you need to know the difference between eye-candy and sex appeal:

Eye Candy grabs focus visually, but sex appeal gets a man hypnotized. Eye candy only lasts until someone of equal or greater hotness enters the room.
SEX APPEAL is felt, it’s intuitive, and it exists long after you leave a man’s periphery. It creates a trail.

While both eye candy and sex appeal are powerful, you never want to have too much of both. If all you offer is eye candy you’re going to have an unconscious “look but don’t touch” policy. Guys who are too good looking fail to be accessible, and are often intimidating to approach–don’t be that guy.

Alternatively, if all you offer is appeal without any kind of visual stimulation, it will instantly send you to the “friend zone” without your permission. The trick is to have a balance of eye candy and appeal, and the doses may vary from man to man.

So how do we do it?

Know what you’re offering

Know the person you are without muscles, hair product or teeth whiteners. There is a soul there (many times we forget it). We spend most of our lives trying to sell our bodies that we fail to forget how valuable our hearts, minds and souls are. Sell that!

Connect soul-to-soul.

It’s important to trigger your intuition when meeting people. If your only tool to get a man’s attention is a low cut shirt and an overused smolder, you don’t have a lot much going on upstairs (no offense).

Don’t forget that we’re human beings. We have sex for fun, but require connection to feel valuable. It’s impossible to have a joyous life without having others see us for who we really are. Let go of trying to pretend, and just be…

England-Fourteen Church of England clergy in same-sex marriages have called on bishops to do more to include gay people in the life of the Church.
In a letter to the Sunday Times, they said they wanted to eventually see gay couples allowed to marry in Church.
Some of the clergy signing the letter were revealing they were gay and married for the first time publicly.
Their letter comes after Bishop Nicholas Chamberlain said on Friday he was gayand in a relationship.
Publication comes in the run-up to a College of Bishops meeting from 12 to 15 September which will discuss issues of episcopal ministry and mission.

The clergy said bishops should be bold, and allow gay people to "celebrate without fear and in openness", though they said that now is not yet the time to change the church's official understanding of marriage.

New York State may pride itself on being in the forefront of progress on many social issues - it was an early adopter of marriage equality, for instance - but it’s just now catching up to most other states in expanding the definition of parenthood.

The New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, ruled Tuesday that “a caretaker who is not related to, or the adoptive guardian of, a child could still be permitted to ask for custody and visitation rights,” The New York Times reports.

The ruling, which involved a same-sex couple, is important to all types of families and brings New York in line with most of the states in the nation, including some very conservative ones, which allow these “de facto parents,” as the Times puts it, to seek custody and visitation rights.