Aidah Asaba sought refuge in the UK after her family, friends and community abused her for being a lesbian. Her family forced her into an arranged marriage in which her husband allegedly beat and raped her and her community accused her of ‘recruiting young girls to be lesbians’ and arranged a town meeting to discuss her sexuality.

Asaba faces deportation as UK home office officials ‘do not believe she is a lesbian’, though she believes Ugandan authorities know her identity and the details of her situation. Uganda has been famously criticised in the media for its inhumane and cruel treatment towards gay people with homosexuality punishable by 14 years imprisonment.

Asaba says:

  “I fear for my life if they will take me back to Uganda, my life has become worthless, I wish I wasn’t born, it is too much for me to bear. I cannot believe I am going to meet my death in Uganda because of my sexuality. …I am only praying for a miracle to happen such that I can live my life without fear of being persecuted or killed because of my sexuality. Please, I beg the U.K. government to help me.”

Summers nearly here – update your summer wardrobe!

The Great British summer is almost upon us, its nearly that time of year where most people in the UK get two to three weeks of sun before winter sets in. In order to enjoy your summer to its full potential here are the top 10  must-have shorts for this summer.

Our Top 10

Asos all over printed chino shorts

These Asos chino shorts are covered in a cool black and white Illuminati style symbol pattern and are available at Asos for £22.00. A simple ‘street style’ look can be made by combining these  shorts with a white T-shirt, like this #No Filter T-shirt costing £7.99 from H&M, just add a pair of black trainers like these Adidas Gazelle OG

  Quiksilver Denim shorts

Denim Shorts are a wardrobe must for both men and women in the summer. Denim shorts can make for both a casual outfit or a smart one if combined with the right tops. These Quicksilver knee high shorts are the perfect summer shorts as they are dyed a darker denim colour which creates a prefect contrast against the light colours of most summer tops. These shorts are available at Quiksilver for £60. For more of a relaxed, summer beach look you can combine the shorts with this white floral trim T-shirt available atBoohoo.com for £10.00 and these classic  flip-flops for £15.00 from Hollister .  If you’re looking for a smart night out in the sun then you should combine  some dark denim shorts with this Blue short sleeve shirt from Topman available for £25.00 and a pair of TOMS Classic Espadrilles available at FootAsylumfor £35.00.

  Look casual in denim shorts with this look

Look smart in denim shorts with this look

  Abercrombie & Fitch Boy shorts

These Abercrombie & Fitch dark Denim Boyshorts are once again a must have for summer. To create a simple beach look, wear this Abercrombie & Fitch Audrey T-shirt available for £30 and add some Hollister flip-flops or some slip on shoes from Topshop.

    Hollister Prep fit beach shorts

Hollister is a brand built for sun, sea and sand and their Blue Prep fit beach shorts do not disappoint with their unique and quirky colour and design. Combine this shorts with a simple plain T-shirt like this £12.00 Jack & Jones t-shirt form Asos and a pair of Lacoste Plimsolls.

H&M Oxford Shorts

Dressing to impress this summer? If the weather is hot, being suited and booted is not what you need. H&M has the perfect solution with these  light blue Oxford Shorts allowing you to look smart this summer. You can buy the shorts from H&M for £20.00 and combine it with this Homme Slim Blazer for £110 from Topman and a pair of H&M Deck shoes available for £35.00.  Create a summer look that shows you mean business.

  Superdry Sweat Shorts

If you’re looking for comfort then these Superdry Sweat Shorts or as some known them as ‘jogging bottom shorts’,  are  the way to go available for £35.00. To get a laid back look, top off the Sweat Shorts with trainers like these Vans Old Skool and a T-shirt.

Boss Orange slim fit

If you want to turn some heads in the sun then these Boss Orange Slim fit shorts are a must have, at £110 they are not cheap but the German high end fashion chain have designed a real gem when it comes to these shorts. When planning an outfit with these shorts its best to keep things simple – a plain white tee and some plain summer shoes or white espadrilles so not to draw attention away from the statement shorts.

Tommy Hilfiger John Shorts

If you’re looking for a modern twist on a classic pair of shorts then these Tommy Hilfiger John shorts are the ones for you. They are available for £75 and are described as an essential item for a Preppy look. To create a Preppy look combine these Hilfiger shorts with a pair of white Lacoste Keel Cll Canvas Pumps available at MandMdirect for £40 and this Motorcycle T-shirt for £14 from Eastclothes.com

    Adam Gallaghers “Casual Colours” look

In this look Adam is wearing a pair of Joe’s Jeans Multi-Stripe Shorts available at Bloomingdales. These shorts are loud but cool and Adam completes his look with some Canvas Zapato Del Barco Vans available at Vans for £37, a plain white tee and a denim jacket like this one from RiverIsland.

Sietske L’s “When it was summer” look

We couldn’t find the exact shorts that Sietskas wearing in this look but you can achieve the same look with these stone washed studded shorts from BooHoo.com. Sietska completes her look by wearing aH&M Wool hat, and a plain white vest.

As if we need another reason to dislike UKIP…

  The European Election day is upon us and  it has recently emerged that Gay UK Independent Party (UKIP) Candidate, Peter Lello, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a homeless Bulgarian man. The ‘assault’ took place in Lewisham, South East London on the 2nd or 3rd of May and  he was arrested by the metropolitan police on the 15th of May. Mr Lello has since been bailed.

The UK Independent party has been famously outspoken about its views on immigration within the UK with many finding the parties views racist. UKIP candidates have also been historically outspoken about the parties hostility towards the LGBT community and its stance on same sex marriage.

(ABOVE: Homophobic party, UKIP Councillor Alan Jesson on same sex marriage.)

Pamper Yourself with Our Favourite Lush Products

Whether you’re a man or a woman we all love a good pamper, and I personally believe that everyone has the right to good quality products for a top quality pampering experience. To help you find the right products for you, I have listed the top pampering products available at popular high street store Lush.

About Lush

Lush is a handmade cosmetic company founded in 1995. Lush sells a variety of products but has become known for its Bath Bombs, Soaps and Face Masks. Lush does not use animal fats in any of their products like some retailers do and they also make sure no products are tested on animals.

Top Products

Golden Egg Bath Bomb

Bath Bombs are a fun way of relaxing after a hard days work and the ‘Golden Egg’ is one of the best. When you place the Bath Bomb in the bath the outer layer melts away giving the bath a golden tinge and releases its glitter. The second layer then fizzes away releasing honey and toffee fragrance’s into the water. The smell of this Bath Bomb alone is enough to soothe and calm oneself, but it also contains olive oil and cocoa Butter which helps cleanse and moisturise your skin.

 SQwears team member Corby said:

This sparkly bomb seemed to go on forever and when I got out of the bath my skin smelt sweet. There was also glitter left in my hair – I love it!

Ceridwen’s Cauldron Bath melt

A bath melt is similar to a bath bomb. A bath bomb uses critic acid to create a fizz and subsequently releases essential oils, but a bath melt uses substances like cocoa butter and shea butter both of which have moisturising properties. Bath melts slowly melt when in contact with warm water and leave the bath milky. Lush has created the king of bath melts which has been copied by may other companies but never to Lush’s high standards. The Ceridwen’s Cauldron Bath Melt is made up of cocoa butter, oats and is scented with soothing sandalwood wrapped in a washcloth. Coco butter and oats both have rich moisturising properties and soothes sensitive skin.

SQwears Team member Rachel said:

This is my favourite Lush product by far. Im not really into the sparkly fizzing bubble baths so this melt is perfect for me. When it melts the bath looks milky and smells great (not too strong). The melt really moisturises your skin which is great for me because I have dry skin. 10/10

Porridge Soap

The Porridge Soap Bar is a fantastic product to use first thing in the morning. The strong orange fragrance wakes you up and leaves your skin smelling fresh. The pinhead oatmeal within the porridge soap bar is included to exfoliate and moisturise the skin. The Porridge Soap Bar also contains rapeseed oil and coconut oil which replaces the animal fats found in most soaps, and also moisturises your skin.

  Stepping Stone Foot Scrub

Feet are often a neglected part of our bodies and after a long day they can hurt, smell and be dry. Feet are always a good place to start when wanting to pamper yourself. The Lush Stepping Stone Foot Scrub is designed to make you feel fantastic about your feet, the pumice powder scrubs all hard and dead skin away. Foot odours are eradicated by the use lemongrass oil within the Stepping Stone which also has antiseptic properties that combats the microbes that cause foot odour. The stone is also scented with lime and lemon leaving feet smelling fresh. Sea salt, jojoba oil and cocoa butter are combined to exfoliate and re-hydrate the skin on your feet.

Hottie Massage Bar

A massage always feels nice on heavy and tired limbs. The Lush Hottie Massage bar can help you achieve a fantastic massage whether you’re massaging yourself or being massaged…The dimples on the Hottie Massage Bar feel nice on the skin and the smell of vanilla mixed with ginger will sooth your senses and leave your skin smelling fresh all day. Hottie is made up of jojoba oil and a cocoa butter base which melts when it comes into contact with your skin. Hottie also contains one unusual ingredient – black pepper oil which gives the bar a warming feel, which can leave your tired muscles feeling energised.

Tea Tree Water Toner

Spots can be embarrassing and most of us have used products to attempt to clear and prevent them. The Tea Tree in Lush’s Tea Tree Water has antibacterial, anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties which help fight spots. The water is also combined with Juniper berry which works as an antiseptic and helps keep skin clean and clear.

  Enzymion Moisturiser

Face creams and moisturisers are used to help re-hydrate your skin and fight the signs of ageing. The Enzymion moisturiser is designed for people who have problems with oily skin. The base ingredients in Enzymion moisturiser is fresh papaya, cocoa butter and aloe vera gel. These ingredients contain the moisturising properties. Enzymion has another ingredient that makes it stand out from its competition, this ingredient is one whole fresh lemon in every pot. The enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids found in the lemon juice gives Enzymion a refreshing and clean feel for a moisturiser and the lemon removes dirt and dead skin cells as well as stimulating and brightening living skin.

SQwears Team member Jade said:

I suffer from oily skin especially on my T zone. After using this product for only one day I noticed such a difference, it cleared up my dry skin as well as getting rid of my blackheads. Surprisingly this moisturiser really helped under my make up, keeping my face oil free. It worked for a good 8+ hours too whereas before my face would go oily after about 4 hours.

  Vanilla Dee-Lite Body Lotion

After a long day it’s nice to replenish and moisturise your skin. Vanilla Dee-lite is a vanilla scented Lotion made up of illipe butter and coconut oil which hydrates your skin. Vanilla Dee-lite also contains antioxidants and enzymes that get rid of dead skin. The strong vanilla scent soothes your nerves and smells delicious.

Cupcake Face Mask

Everyone knows that face masks are a great way to cleanse your face – they are quick and easy to apply and should always be included as a treat for your skin every now and then. Lush’s Cupcake Face Mask uses rhassoul mud as its base ingredient, the mud is a natural mineral and is an excellent cleanser and grease remover. The fresh mint in Cupcake is included to tone skin and the cocoa powder and linseed oil moisturises your skin. Cupcake takes 15 minutes to work and will leave your face clean, smooth and feeling fantastic.

  Whipstick Lip Balm

Lip Balm’s are the best way to give yourself a little pamper on the go. Lush has a variety of different lip balms for sale but I believe that the Whipstick lip balm is the best on sale. Whipstick is made with honey, oat milk and shea butter which leaves your lips super hydrated. It also contains orange oil, cocoa butter and vanilla extract in order to give the balm a chocolate orange taste.

Gay Jeans – New Technology or a Fad?

A new fashion technology has hit the US but is it a fantastic new fashion or a clever gimmick aiming to make money from the LGBT community? The technology I am referring to is Betabrand ‘Gay Jeans’. 

The idea behind these jeans is really clever. Over time the jeans give you two different looks, when they are new they appear to look like standard denim jeans but once washed several times rainbow coloured threads start to appear.

Gay Jeans are the invention of Steven B. Wheeler the lead fashion designer of Betabrand. He wanted to take the regular 5-pocket denim jeans which have quite a masculine look and transform them into a quirky and fun must-have. The  phrase “coming out” is used excessively in promoting the jeans, as its technically what the coloured threads do! Everything about these jeans from the design to the marketing is clearly cementing this product to the gay community. The Gay Jeans are on sale at Betabrand for around $90 and 10% of the sales go to sf-center a LGBT community centre in San Francisco.

How They Work

The way Gay Jeans work is the jeans original dark Denim colour is dyed with a weak indigo dye, designed to gradually fade away. The threads underneath are dyed in strong dyes designed to remain bright for a long time.  So in theory you could design a pair of jeans that has grey threads underneath and an original dark Denim colour on top. 

Today I came across Avicii’s music video for the song ‘Addicted to you’ and questioned why I hadn’t come across it before?! The racy video has been out for the last 3 months and tells a story about two lesbian lovers who rob various businesses at gun point for quick cash, that is until they are caught by the police and one girl is shot dead. Check out some of the stills from the video:

YUP

YUP AGAIN

EDGY

Avicii you have outdone yourself.

One YouTube user ‘Deanmullen10′ rightly commented that the story would make a great plot for a TV show. Reblog if, like us, you agree!

Long awaited film ‘The Danish Girl’ looks to be set in motion with ‘Les Mis’ director Tom Hooper on board.

Since early 2010 the internet has been a flood of rumours about a film version of David Ebershoff’s best selling novel ‘The Danish Girl’ being made. Rumours began in 2010 when Nicole Kidman was a confirmed member of cast, along with Rachel Weisz, Charlize Theron, Gwenyth Paltrow, Uma Thurman, and Marion Cotillard – all of whom pulled out.

It wasn’t just the cast that went through a chop and change over the last four years, with confirmed Swedish directors Lasse Hallstrom and Tomas Alfredson both pulling out of the project. However, today it was confirmed that the working title funded film will be directed by British director Tom Hooper (Les Miserables, The Kings Speech) and  will star actor Eddie Redmayne.

The romantic drama portrays the life of Danish painters Einar Wegener and his wife Gerda. In 1930, Wegener underwent the surgery and became Lili Elbe, then the first woman to undergo a sex change operation. The novel itself won the Rosenthal Foundation Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Lambda Literary Award. It was also a finalist for the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Award and an American Library Association Award, and was a New York Times Notable Book.

It’s about time that members of the Trans* community were represented in film, and what with Jared Leto’s performance as Rayvon in the film ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, the world of film seems to be warming to exploring the lives of transexuals more and more.  

The life and achievements of a gay man who helped Britain win the war.

Not many people could tell you who Alan Turing was and what he achieved in his lifetime. We at SQwears believe that Turing was in fact a modern martyr and that we are all in his debt.

Turing's achievements

Turing was born in 1912 in Paddington to a middle class family. Turing started his educational life at the age of 6 when his parents enrolled him at a school called St Michael's. St Michael's was a Day School which meant that Turing got to go home after his lessons. This was not a common practice for middle class families at this time as most children were sent away to live at boarding schools. The Headmistress of St Michaels quickly discovered that Turing was a gifted child with a sharp mind and many talents. Most people who met Turing during his life would say the same.

In 1935 Turing graduated from Cambridge with a First Class Honours degree in mathematics. After university, Turing was made one of the 'Fellows Of King's' at Kings College London. The 'Fellows Of King's' is an exclusive group made up of the best and the brightest minds in Britain so at the age of 22 this was a fantastic achievement for Turing.

In 1938 Turing started working part-time for GC&CS (Government Code and Cypher School) at Bletchley Park. With the outbreak of the Second World War Turing started working at Bletchley full time. Turing's main goal was to break the German Enigma code. The Enigma Code was essentially a Machine that scrambled the German's military and naval messages so that if the allied forces did intercept them they were not able to read them.

How does the Enigma Machine work? When a key is pressed on the keyboard an electrical current is sent through the machine. The current first passes through the plug board, then through up to 5 rotors, through the reflector which bounces the current back through the  rotors, to light up a letter on the reserver display. 

The Enigma was a big problem for the allied forces and Turing knew this. Turing took it on himself to invent a machine that could break the Enigma and 2 years later Turing unveiled 'Bomba', a machine that could break the Enigma code. The invention of Bomba shortened the war and allowed our allies to plan assaults like D-Day, it also allowed the navy to detect German U-boats so shipping was not under a direct threat. Turing's discovery saved tens of thousands of lives on our allies side. In recognition of Turing's achievements and services to the country, Turing was awarded a OBE by King Gorge VI.

After the war Turing started working on designing and building an Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) for the National Physical Laboratory. The ACE was completed in 1947. It is the grandfather of our modern day computers and was the first step on a very long road of discovery. It is all thanks to Turing.

Turing's Death and conviction

From 1952 until his death, Turing started working in the field of mathematical biology. It was during this time that Turing entered in to a relationship with a 19 year old man called Arnold Murray. Later that year Turing's house was burgled, ensuring questions about Turing's sexual relationship were emerged. Turing confessed to being homosexual and was subsequently charged with gross indecency.

Turing was given a choice between being imprisoned and chemical castration. He choose chemical castration so he could continue with his work, the result of which he believed would benefit the people. On 8 June 1954 Alan Turing was found dead in his bed. He had killed himself by taking cyanide. It was obvious that Alan Turing could not live with what the government had done. He couldn't pretend he was someone different and hide his feelings.

Alan Turing helped save our country during WW2 and saved thousands of lives thanks to his invention. Turing had one of the greatest minds of the 20th century - he basically designed the desktop computer we all know today which revolutionised the way society functions today. Alan Turing was treated like a dog with behavioural problems by his own people and was forced to renounce his own sexuality over peoples moral objection. Although the British government did not force Turing to take the cyanide they did effectively sentence him to death.

It took until 2009 for the UK government to recognise that Alan Turing was wrongly prosecuted. The British Government then promptly posthumously apologised for Turing's prosecution as a homosexual. In 2013 Queen Elizabeth II signed a pardon for Turing's conviction of Gross Indecency.