• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Dexter Origins confirmed with plans for more serial killer spin offs
  • Retired, Single & Sexy! Tom Brady Holds His Hand Over His Private Parts In Nearly Nude Selfie — See Photo
  • Jazz Jennings Admits ‘Nervous’ Remark From Date Left Her Feeling ‘Uncomfortable’ In New Sneak Peek

Queer Man Celebrates After Appearing with Lover on Durex Condom Billboard: ‘I Am Beyond Proud’

Towleroad March 4, 2020 Leave a Comment

Michael Allsop, a Belfast-born creative, celebrated with an emotional Instagram post after appearing on a billboard for Durex condoms for a campaign called “challenge the norms.” Northern Ireland only recently began allowing same-sex marriages. Scroll through for photos, below.

View this post on Instagram

ON A BILLBOARD – just where I like my picture to be! I am beyond proud to be part of such an incredible campaign with such an important message. Breaking down the pressure and stereotypes around sex and allowing people to enjoy their bodies. This campaign is very personal to me. Growing up in Belfast, and being from an Irish Catholic background, the words QUEER and GAY were often considered dirty words. After a long hard battle with the internalised homophobia and sexism that I was taught from a young age, I embarked on a journey of self acceptance, love and growth. This is when I learnt how to accept myself. At around 17 years old I took a vow that as I grew older I would be the QUEER that I needed to see when I was 12 years old. That 12 year old boy who was really struggling and couldn't see a way out. Every day I try to present my authentic self, even though at times it has been hard or has lead to harassment. Now, here I am with my love Sean on a billboard celebrating love and sex and being real. Feeling very proud of myself and I hope someone who is struggling sees this post or the ad and it helps them to hold on and fight for a brighter future. SELF LOVE AND CELEBRATION IS A BIG VIBE FOR 2020 Campaign shot by photographer @emilyscarlettromain #givelove

A post shared by Michael Allsopp (@allyourmichael) on Feb 24, 2020 at 1:20am PST

Said Allsop in an Instagram post: “I am beyond proud to be part of such an incredible campaign with such an important message. Breaking down the pressure and stereotypes around sex and allowing people to enjoy their bodies. This campaign is very personal to me. Growing up in Belfast, and being from an Irish Catholic background, the words QUEER and GAY were often considered dirty words.”

“After a long hard battle with the internalised homophobia and sexism that I was taught from a young age, I embarked on a journey of self acceptance, love and growth,” he continued. “This is when I learnt how to accept myself. 
At around 17 years old I took a vow that as I grew older I would be the QUEER that I needed to see when I was 12 years old. That 12 year old boy who was really struggling and couldn’t see a way out. Every day I try to present my authentic self, even though at times it has been hard or has lead to harassment. Now, here I am with my love Sean on a billboard celebrating love and sex and being real. Feeling very proud of myself and I hope someone who is struggling sees this post or the ad and it helps them to hold on and fight for a brighter future.”

Metro reports: “The pictures in the campaign, taken by photographer Emily Scarlett Romain, were shared with the tagline ‘Challenge the norms’ and also included 75 images covering all ethnicities, orientations, body types, shapes, and sizes as picked by the Kintzing agency.”

Topics: towleroad More Posts About: Belfast, business, Couples, Durex, northern ireland

Related Posts
  • The top 50 movies of 2022 – Part II
  • Bringing In The Big Bucks! The Royal Family Estimated To Be Worth A Whopping $23 Billion
  • Romantic Partners Who Watch Porn Together Have Higher Relationship Quality; Contradicting Claims It Causes Them to Fall Apart, Study Finds
  • Retired, Single & Sexy! Tom Brady Holds His Hand Over His Private Parts In Nearly Nude Selfie — See Photo

    Retired, Single & Sexy! Tom Brady Holds His Hand Over His Private Parts In Nearly Nude Selfie — See Photo

    Published by OK Magazine mega Tom Brady‘s latest sultry snap has fans drooling. On Monday, February 6, the legendary quarterback took to his Instagram Story to tease his 13.4 million followers with a stripped-down mirror selfie. …Read More »
  • Jazz Jennings Admits ‘Nervous’ Remark From Date Left Her Feeling ‘Uncomfortable’ In New Sneak Peek

    Jazz Jennings Admits ‘Nervous’ Remark From Date Left Her Feeling ‘Uncomfortable’ In New Sneak Peek

    Published by OK Magazine TLC Jazz Jennings has entered the dating pool — which has turned out to be more of a rocky, dating dance. In the sneak peek of the Tuesday, February 6, episode of …Read More »
  • Queering the internet: anonymous online spaces for LGBTQ+ people

    Queering the internet: anonymous online spaces for LGBTQ+ people

    Published by Global Voices A screenshot of Google maps (Jakarta). Composed by Sydney Allen via Canva Global Voices has extensively cataloged the pressures, violence, hate speech, and oppression queer people face all over the world. Whether …Read More »
  • Pro-LGBTQ Christian school forced to close after being ‘bombarded by hate’

    Pro-LGBTQ Christian school forced to close after being ‘bombarded by hate’

    Published by Raw Story A Christian school in Kansas City is being forced to close after its donations almost completely dried up ever since it came out in support of LGBTQ rights. The Kansas City Star …Read More »
Previous Post: « Bloomberg Out of 2020 Race, Endorses Biden, Gets Predictable Mockery from Trump
Next Post: PGA Golfer Scott Piercy Posts Homophobic Meme About Pete Buttigieg, Reveals He’s a QAnon Follower »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • Ivanka Trump ‘Doesn’t Trust’ Donald Trump Jr.’s Fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle, Claims Insider: ‘Sees Her As A Desperate Social Climber’

    Ivanka Trump ‘Doesn’t Trust’ Donald Trump Jr.’s Fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle, Claims Insider: ‘Sees Her As A Desperate Social Climber’

  • A Secret Weapon in Preventing the Next Pandemic: Fruit Bats

    A Secret Weapon in Preventing the Next Pandemic: Fruit Bats

  • Explainer-Biden’s State of the Union address and what to expect

    Explainer-Biden’s State of the Union address and what to expect

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • ‘At Least You Know I’m Singing Live’: Adele FORGETS The Lyrics To Her Award-Winning Song At Las Vegas Residency Before Grammys

    ‘At Least You Know I’m Singing Live’: Adele FORGETS The Lyrics To Her Award-Winning Song At Las Vegas Residency Before Grammys

  • ‘Leaving Neverland’ Director SLAMS Michael Jackson Biopic Starring Late King Of Pop’s Nephew, Claiming It Will ‘Glorify A Pedophile’

    ‘Leaving Neverland’ Director SLAMS Michael Jackson Biopic Starring Late King Of Pop’s Nephew, Claiming It Will ‘Glorify A Pedophile’

  • Sarah Michelle Gellar reveals Sandy Gallin and Dolly Parton’s ‘little known’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer role

    Sarah Michelle Gellar reveals Sandy Gallin and Dolly Parton’s ‘little known’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer role

RSS Partner Links

  • Princess Kate wore stripes in a video for Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
  • Courtiers have hatched a plan to not invite Duchess Meghan to the Chubbly
  • Chris Brown Apologized To Robert Glasper After His Post-Grammy Loss Tantrum
  • Murray Bartlett On Aging Up For THE LAST OF US + Santos Facing Probe (In A Bad Way) + Lea Michele Opens Up About GROWTH Since GLEE + Her Name Is Barbra, Guys! + MORE! — 6-PACK
  • 24-Year-Old Shawn Mendes Is Rumored To Be Dating His 51-Year Chiropractor
  • Brandi Glanville Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Caroline Manzo Was Why She Got Kicked Off “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip”
  • Stephanie Hsu & Ashley Park Go For A 'Joy Ride' With Friends

Most Recent

  • Dexter Origins confirmed with plans for more serial killer spin offs

    Dexter Origins confirmed with plans for more serial killer spin offs

  • Retired, Single & Sexy! Tom Brady Holds His Hand Over His Private Parts In Nearly Nude Selfie — See Photo

    Retired, Single & Sexy! Tom Brady Holds His Hand Over His Private Parts In Nearly Nude Selfie — See Photo

  • Jazz Jennings Admits ‘Nervous’ Remark From Date Left Her Feeling ‘Uncomfortable’ In New Sneak Peek

    Jazz Jennings Admits ‘Nervous’ Remark From Date Left Her Feeling ‘Uncomfortable’ In New Sneak Peek

  • Queering the internet: anonymous online spaces for LGBTQ+ people

    Queering the internet: anonymous online spaces for LGBTQ+ people

  • Pro-LGBTQ Christian school forced to close after being ‘bombarded by hate’

    Pro-LGBTQ Christian school forced to close after being ‘bombarded by hate’

  • Afghanistan’s LGBTQ+ may prefer death to life under Taliban

    Afghanistan’s LGBTQ+ may prefer death to life under Taliban

  • Hogwarts Legacy seemingly adds first transgender Harry Potter character

    Hogwarts Legacy seemingly adds first transgender Harry Potter character

  • Grammy Awards: Men’s fashion steals the red carpet in stereotype-shattering style

    Grammy Awards: Men’s fashion steals the red carpet in stereotype-shattering style

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×