#the sunday times style uk 2021

[brookston]

Holidays 6.23

Holidays

AIFF Grassroots Day (India)

Alan Turing Day

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Brexit Referendum Day (UK)

Cadets Day (UK)

Coast Guard Auxiliary Day (US)

Cosmic Patience Day

Dancing Day (Elder Scrolls)

Dandruff Dance Day

Dzień Ojca (Father's Day; Poland)

Father’s Day (Nicaragua)

Festival of the Purple Void

Fitness and Sports Day (Armenia)

Grand Duke's Birthday (Luxembourg)

Guru Rinpoche Day (Bhutan)

HHT Global Awareness Day

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)

International Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day

International Olympic Day

International Portrait Day

International Widows Day (UN)

International Women in Engineering Day

Ivan Kupala Day (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine)

Jurassic Plebiscite Commemoration (Jura, Switzerland)

Let It Go Day

Longest Night (from “Kushiel’s Legacy”)

Low Pressure Headache Awareness Day

Luxembourgish National Day

Mule Day (French Republic)

National Belly Button Day

National Columnists Day

National Day (Egypt)

National Day (Luxembourg)

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)

National Family Owned and Operated Businesses Day

National Hydration Day

National Pink Day

National Soil Health Day

National Tantra Education Day

Okinawa Memorial Day (Japan)

Pink Flamingo Day

Poop Out Early Day

Public Service Day (UN)

Runner’s Selfie Day

Sankt Hans Aften (Denmark, Estonia, Norway)

SAT Math Day

Shoryuken Day

623 Day

Sonic the Hedgehog Day

SOS Day

Take Your Dog to Work Day

Tiki Tiki Tiki Day

Time to Let Go

Triumph Over Adversity Day

Typewriter Day

Voidupuha (or Jaaniõhtu; a.k.a. Victory Day, Estonia)

World Female Ranger Day

World Handball Day

World Olympic Day

World Whistleblower Day

XLH Awareness Day

Zamboni Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Rum Day [also 8.16]

National Detroit-Style Pizza Day

National Pecan Sandies Day

National Porridge Day

Independence & Related Days

Bacoor Cityhood Day (Philippines)

Jura Canton Independence Day (Switzerland)

Skhodnya (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Statehood Day (Ziua Suveranităţii); Moldova)

4th Sunday in June

Aermera (Northern Solstice; Aretéanism) [4th Sunday] (Air)

America's Kids Day [4th Sunday]

International Sit in the Front Pew Day [4th Sunday]

National Fatherless Children’s Day [4th Sunday]

National Forgiveness Day [4th Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 23 (4th Full Week)

Fish are Friends, Not Food Week! (Thru 6.29) [Last Full Week]

National Body Piercing Week (thru 6.28)

National Camping Week (thru 6.29) [Last Full Week]

National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (thru 6.29) [Last Full Week]

National Tennis Week (thru 6.29) [Last Full Week]

Windjammer Days (thru 6.29)

Festivals Beginning June 23, 2024

Armenian Festival (Providence, Rhode Island)

Big Batch Brew Bash (Houston, Texas)

Heritage Fire (Nashville, Tennessee)

International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show [IBWSS] (San Francisco, California) [thru 6.24]

Summer Fancy Food Show (New York, New York) [thru 6.25]

Taste for Life (Baltimore, Maryland)

Feast Days

Æthelthryth (a.k.a. Ethelreda or Audry) of Ely (Christian; Saint)

Agrippina (Christian; Martyr & Virgin)

Ancient Druidic Midsummer Baal

Anna Akhmatova (Writerism)

Anubis Ceremony (Ancient Egypt)

Baldur’s Day (Pagan)

Becky Cloonan (Artology)

Bob Marley Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Dandruff Dance (Goblins and Gnomes; Shamanism)

Day of Cu Chulainn (Everyday Wicca)

Day to Make Offerings for the Spirits of the Land (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Don John of Austria (Positivist; Saint)

Frank Bolle (Artology)

Hugh Howey (Writerism)

Jorė (Ancient Latvian Festival to Thundergod Perkūnas)

Joseph Cafasso (Christian; Saint)

Juan Toucan (Muppetism)

Kupala (Asatru/Slavic Pagan)

Lietbertus (a.k.a. Libert; Christian; Saint)

Madness, Death, or Poetry Day (Druid)

Marie (a.k.a. Mary) of Oignies (Christian; Saint)

Markus Zusak (Writerism)

Parrot Pondering Day (Pastafarian)

Richard Bach (Writerism)

Rousalii (Celebrating the Romanian Goddesses)

St. John's Eve [and 1st Day of Midsummer celebrations] (a.k.a. ... 

Bonfires St. John's (Spain)

Drăgaica Fair ends (Buzău, Romania)

Festa de São João do Porto begins (Porto)

Golowan Festival begins (Cornwall, UK)

Jaaniõhtu (Estonia)

Jāņi (Latvia)

Kupala Night (Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine)

Līgo (Latvia)

Midsummer Eve (Denmark, Finland, Sweden)

Midsummer’s Eve (England)

Noc Świętojańska (Poland)

Settling of the Manor of Tara (Celtic Book of Days)

Snake Jewelry Luck Day

Zoran Janjetov (Artology)

Orthodox Christian Liturgical Calendar Holidays

7th Sunday after Easter [50 Days after Easter] (a.k.a. …

Orthodox Pentecost (Ukraine)

Orthodox Whit Sunday

Pentecost (Romania)

Rusalli (Romania)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

Alice Gets Stage Struck (Disney Cartoon; 1925)

Batman (Film; 1989)

The Bear (TV Series; 2022)

Beaucoups of Blues, recorded by Ringo Starr (Song; 1970)

Buddy’s Bearcats (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

The Big Sick (Film; 2017)

Carolina, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2022)

Chain of Fools, recorded by Aretha Franklin (Song; 1967)

Chicken Run (Animated Aardman Film; 2000)

Click (Film; 2006)

Coming Home, by Leon Bridges (Album; 2015)

Copacabana (UK Musical Play; 1994)

The Devil Went Down to Georgia, by Charlie Daniels (Song; 1979)

Dope, by BTS (Song; 2015)

Emotional Rescue, by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1980)

The Enchanted Tiki Room (Disneyland Attraction; 1963)

A Fly in the Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1971)

GLOW (TV Series; 2017)

The Happiest Millionaire (Film; 1967

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (Film; 1989)

The House with a Clock in Its Walls, by John Bellairs (Mystery Novel; 1973)

Jitterbug Jive (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1950)

Kelly’s Heroes (Film; 1970)

Knight and Day (Film; 2010)

The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1971)

Murder by Death (Film; 1976)

My Sharona, by The Knack (Song;1978)

St. John’s Night on a Bare Mountain (a.k.a. Night on Bald Mountain), completed by Modest Mussorgsky (Tone Poem Orchestral Piece; 1860)

No Hard Feelings (Film; 2023)

Octopussy and the Living Daylights, by Ian Fleming (Short Stoies; 1959) [James Bond #14]

Old (Film; 2021)

Pink DaVinci (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1975)

Pocahontas (Animated Disney Film; 1995)

Reddit (Social Media App; 2005)

Red Octopus, by Jefferson Starship (Album; 1975)

A Shot in the Dark (Film; 1964)

Shutter Bugged Cat (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1967)

Suits (TV Series; 2011)

Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond (Song; 1969)

The Tracks of My Tears, by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Song; 1965)

Tugboat Granny (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

Tummy Trouble (Roger Rabbit Cartoon; 1989)

Von Ryan’s Express (Film; 1965)

Wilfred (TV Series; 2011)

Today’s Name Days

Edeltraud, Marion, Ortrud (Austria)

Josip, Marija (Croatia)

Zdeňka (Czech Republic)

Paulinus (Denmark)

Kalev, Malev, Malvo (Estonia)

Aadolf, Aatto, Aatu (Finland)

Audrey (France)

Edeltraud, Marion, Ortrud (Germany)

Agrippina, Aristoklis, Loulou (Greece)

Zoltán (Hungary)

Alice, Agrippina, Lanfranco (Italy)

Līga, Ligita, Ligonis (Latvia)

Arvydas, Vaida, Vanda, Zenonas (Lithuania)

Eldrid, Elfrid (Norway)

Agrypina, Albin, Bazyli, Józef, Piotr, Prosper, Wanda, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Agripina (România)

Alexandra, Antonina (Russia)

Sidónia (Slovakia)

José, Zenón (Spain)

Adolf, Alice (Sweden)

Audra, Audrey, Dashawn, Deshawn, Elton, Ethel, Josiah, Josias, Shaina, Shania, Shaun, Shauna, Shawn, Shawna, Shayna, Shayne, Shonda (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 175 of 2024; 191 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 25 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 18 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 17 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 16 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 25 Blue; Foursday [25 of 30]

Julian: 10 June 2024

Moon: 96%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 6 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Don John of Austria]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 4 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of June)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 3 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 6.23

Holidays

AIFF Grassroots Day (India)

Alan Turing Day

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Brexit Referendum Day (UK)

Cadets Day (UK)

Coast Guard Auxiliary Day (US)

Cosmic Patience Day

Dancing Day (Elder Scrolls)

Dandruff Dance Day

Dzień Ojca (Father's Day; Poland)

Father’s Day (Nicaragua)

Festival of the Purple Void

Fitness and Sports Day (Armenia)

Grand Duke's Birthday (Luxembourg)

Guru Rinpoche Day (Bhutan)

HHT Global Awareness Day

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)

International Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day

International Olympic Day

International Portrait Day

International Widows Day (UN)

International Women in Engineering Day

Ivan Kupala Day (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine)

Jurassic Plebiscite Commemoration (Jura, Switzerland)

Let It Go Day

Longest Night (from “Kushiel’s Legacy”)

Low Pressure Headache Awareness Day

Luxembourgish National Day

Mule Day (French Republic)

National Belly Button Day

National Columnists Day

National Day (Egypt)

National Day (Luxembourg)

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)

National Family Owned and Operated Businesses Day

National Hydration Day

National Pink Day

National Soil Health Day

National Tantra Education Day

Okinawa Memorial Day (Japan)

Pink Flamingo Day

Poop Out Early Day

Public Service Day (UN)

Runner’s Selfie Day

Sankt Hans Aften (Denmark, Estonia, Norway)

SAT Math Day

Shoryuken Day

623 Day

Sonic the Hedgehog Day

SOS Day

Take Your Dog to Work Day

Tiki Tiki Tiki Day

Time to Let Go

Triumph Over Adversity Day

Typewriter Day

Voidupuha (or Jaaniõhtu; a.k.a. Victory Day, Estonia)

World Female Ranger Day

World Handball Day

World Olympic Day

World Whistleblower Day

XLH Awareness Day

Zamboni Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Rum Day [also 8.16]

National Detroit-Style Pizza Day

National Pecan Sandies Day

National Porridge Day

Independence & Related Days

Bacoor Cityhood Day (Philippines)

Jura Canton Independence Day (Switzerland)

Skhodnya (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Statehood Day (Ziua Suveranităţii); Moldova)

4th Sunday in June

Aermera (Northern Solstice; Aretéanism) [4th Sunday] (Air)

America's Kids Day [4th Sunday]

International Sit in the Front Pew Day [4th Sunday]

National Fatherless Children’s Day [4th Sunday]

National Forgiveness Day [4th Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning June 23 (4th Full Week)

Fish are Friends, Not Food Week! (Thru 6.29) [Last Full Week]

National Body Piercing Week (thru 6.28)

National Camping Week (thru 6.29) [Last Full Week]

National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (thru 6.29) [Last Full Week]

National Tennis Week (thru 6.29) [Last Full Week]

Windjammer Days (thru 6.29)

Festivals Beginning June 23, 2024

Armenian Festival (Providence, Rhode Island)

Big Batch Brew Bash (Houston, Texas)

Heritage Fire (Nashville, Tennessee)

International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show [IBWSS] (San Francisco, California) [thru 6.24]

Summer Fancy Food Show (New York, New York) [thru 6.25]

Taste for Life (Baltimore, Maryland)

Feast Days

Æthelthryth (a.k.a. Ethelreda or Audry) of Ely (Christian; Saint)

Agrippina (Christian; Martyr & Virgin)

Ancient Druidic Midsummer Baal

Anna Akhmatova (Writerism)

Anubis Ceremony (Ancient Egypt)

Baldur’s Day (Pagan)

Becky Cloonan (Artology)

Bob Marley Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Dandruff Dance (Goblins and Gnomes; Shamanism)

Day of Cu Chulainn (Everyday Wicca)

Day to Make Offerings for the Spirits of the Land (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Don John of Austria (Positivist; Saint)

Frank Bolle (Artology)

Hugh Howey (Writerism)

Jorė (Ancient Latvian Festival to Thundergod Perkūnas)

Joseph Cafasso (Christian; Saint)

Juan Toucan (Muppetism)

Kupala (Asatru/Slavic Pagan)

Lietbertus (a.k.a. Libert; Christian; Saint)

Madness, Death, or Poetry Day (Druid)

Marie (a.k.a. Mary) of Oignies (Christian; Saint)

Markus Zusak (Writerism)

Parrot Pondering Day (Pastafarian)

Richard Bach (Writerism)

Rousalii (Celebrating the Romanian Goddesses)

St. John's Eve [and 1st Day of Midsummer celebrations] (a.k.a. ... 

Bonfires St. John's (Spain)

Drăgaica Fair ends (Buzău, Romania)

Festa de São João do Porto begins (Porto)

Golowan Festival begins (Cornwall, UK)

Jaaniõhtu (Estonia)

Jāņi (Latvia)

Kupala Night (Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine)

Līgo (Latvia)

Midsummer Eve (Denmark, Finland, Sweden)

Midsummer’s Eve (England)

Noc Świętojańska (Poland)

Settling of the Manor of Tara (Celtic Book of Days)

Snake Jewelry Luck Day

Zoran Janjetov (Artology)

Orthodox Christian Liturgical Calendar Holidays

7th Sunday after Easter [50 Days after Easter] (a.k.a. …

Orthodox Pentecost (Ukraine)

Orthodox Whit Sunday

Pentecost (Romania)

Rusalli (Romania)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

Alice Gets Stage Struck (Disney Cartoon; 1925)

Batman (Film; 1989)

The Bear (TV Series; 2022)

Beaucoups of Blues, recorded by Ringo Starr (Song; 1970)

Buddy’s Bearcats (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

The Big Sick (Film; 2017)

Carolina, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2022)

Chain of Fools, recorded by Aretha Franklin (Song; 1967)

Chicken Run (Animated Aardman Film; 2000)

Click (Film; 2006)

Coming Home, by Leon Bridges (Album; 2015)

Copacabana (UK Musical Play; 1994)

The Devil Went Down to Georgia, by Charlie Daniels (Song; 1979)

Dope, by BTS (Song; 2015)

Emotional Rescue, by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1980)

The Enchanted Tiki Room (Disneyland Attraction; 1963)

A Fly in the Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1971)

GLOW (TV Series; 2017)

The Happiest Millionaire (Film; 1967

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (Film; 1989)

The House with a Clock in Its Walls, by John Bellairs (Mystery Novel; 1973)

Jitterbug Jive (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1950)

Kelly’s Heroes (Film; 1970)

Knight and Day (Film; 2010)

The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1971)

Murder by Death (Film; 1976)

My Sharona, by The Knack (Song;1978)

St. John’s Night on a Bare Mountain (a.k.a. Night on Bald Mountain), completed by Modest Mussorgsky (Tone Poem Orchestral Piece; 1860)

No Hard Feelings (Film; 2023)

Octopussy and the Living Daylights, by Ian Fleming (Short Stoies; 1959) [James Bond #14]

Old (Film; 2021)

Pink DaVinci (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1975)

Pocahontas (Animated Disney Film; 1995)

Reddit (Social Media App; 2005)

Red Octopus, by Jefferson Starship (Album; 1975)

A Shot in the Dark (Film; 1964)

Shutter Bugged Cat (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1967)

Suits (TV Series; 2011)

Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond (Song; 1969)

The Tracks of My Tears, by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Song; 1965)

Tugboat Granny (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

Tummy Trouble (Roger Rabbit Cartoon; 1989)

Von Ryan’s Express (Film; 1965)

Wilfred (TV Series; 2011)

Today’s Name Days

Edeltraud, Marion, Ortrud (Austria)

Josip, Marija (Croatia)

Zdeňka (Czech Republic)

Paulinus (Denmark)

Kalev, Malev, Malvo (Estonia)

Aadolf, Aatto, Aatu (Finland)

Audrey (France)

Edeltraud, Marion, Ortrud (Germany)

Agrippina, Aristoklis, Loulou (Greece)

Zoltán (Hungary)

Alice, Agrippina, Lanfranco (Italy)

Līga, Ligita, Ligonis (Latvia)

Arvydas, Vaida, Vanda, Zenonas (Lithuania)

Eldrid, Elfrid (Norway)

Agrypina, Albin, Bazyli, Józef, Piotr, Prosper, Wanda, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Agripina (România)

Alexandra, Antonina (Russia)

Sidónia (Slovakia)

José, Zenón (Spain)

Adolf, Alice (Sweden)

Audra, Audrey, Dashawn, Deshawn, Elton, Ethel, Josiah, Josias, Shaina, Shania, Shaun, Shauna, Shawn, Shawna, Shayna, Shayne, Shonda (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 175 of 2024; 191 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 25 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 18 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 17 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 16 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 25 Blue; Foursday [25 of 30]

Julian: 10 June 2024

Moon: 96%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 6 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Don John of Austria]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 4 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of June)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 3 of 31)

[famousdaily]

ANA DE ARMAS ━ The Sunday Times Style UK January 2021 ph. Thomas Whiteside

[bestmodelsource]

Rosie Huntington Whiteley for The Sunday Times Style UK August 2021 by Sonia Szóstak

[voguefashion]

Ana de Armas photographed by Thomas Whiteside for the January 24th 2021 issue of The Sunday Times Style UK magazine.

[sinnamonscouture]

Blesnya Minher for The Sunday Times Style Magazine UK, January 2021

[absolutebl]

You've probably answered this before, but here goes anyway! Which BLs are your absolute top 15? Any country, any pairing, any tropes! I really wanna hear your list :)

Also, top 5 for absolute worst BLs!

Absolute Top 15 Best (and Worst) BLs

To be perfectly honest I hadn't done this yet because I've been patiently waiting for 10 BLs to exist in the universe that i've rated 10/10. It hasn't happened yet so...

Absolute Top 15 BLs

No particular order, these are all my beloved babies.

RATED 10/10

1. Seven Days (Japan 2015) 

One of the best live action yaois ever made, with perfectly structured angst, fantastic characters and acting, and no problematic tropes (rare in Japanese BL). The leads have excellent chemistry although it’s low heat there’s still some really cute mutual kisses. 

Popular first year Seiryo has a policy of going out with any girl who asks… for one week. On a lark, third year Yuzuru tests to see if that policy also applies to boys. Seiryo agrees that it does. Along the way they accidentally fall in love, although each is convinced the other one thinks it’s just for a week. 

Full review here. Last I checked could find it on DramaCool in 2 parts Seven Days: Monday - Thursday, Seven Days: Friday - Sunday) sometimes it shows up on YouTube. 

2. Color Rush (Korea 2021)

A unique paranormal twist elevates this classic high school drama into a pitch-perfect allegory for the queer coming out experience and one of the best BLs of all time (I will fight you on this). 

Monos can only see in grey scale, until they meet their probes. But when they do, monos can turn into obsessive monsters over the one person that turns on the world color. When Yeon Woo meets his probe, however, that boy seems a  lot more obsessed with him. 

Full review here. I did not like the 2nd season as much. Color Rush is on Viki. Watch the movie version.

3. Light On Me (Korea 2021)

Korea does an elegant pastiche of traditional live action yaoi but all tropes are cleverly deployed to bolster one of the most riveting love triangles ever put on screen… and I don’t like love triangles!

TaeKyung is a bit awkward and introverted and has never really wanted friends, but suddenly he thinks that might have been a bad life choice. So he joins the student council where he meets, among others, two very different boys who both want more than friendship from him. 

Light On Me is on Viki.

4. To My Star (Korea 2021)

It’s is a touch quirky to get into, but utterly charming once it hits its stride. This is the ultimate grumpy/sunshine pairing plus the most appealing light-filled kitchen of our dreams. 

Famous actor (adorable bundle of neurosis) takes refuge in the house of a reserved chef and is immediately smitten by Mr Tall Dark & Glowering. The chef is also smitten but refuses to admit it to himself or anyone else. 

Full review here. (I did not like season 2 as much.) To My Star is on Viki. 

5. We Best Love 1 & 2 (Taiwan 2021)

WBL is composed of two parts: We Best Love: No 1 for You & We Best Love: Fighting Mr 2nd. The 1st season is a short run classic university set BL combining the best of Korea & Thailand’s modern takes on genre. The 2nd season moves into the office, and employs Japanese style in terms of setting, obsession, and mature concepts. WBL thus successfully managed to pick up and combine the best features of Korean, Thai, and Japanese BL as it exists right now. Couple that to the insane chemistry from the leads, and we have one of the greatest BLs of all time, cooking to a recipe I doubt anyone else will ever be able to replicate since only Taiwan is this flexible. 

Story wise it’s pretty classic: Shi De has been in love with Shu Yi since childhood, but Shu Yi has always seen them as rivals. In university, events finally conspire for Shi De to make his move. It’s the ultimate tsundere uke versus the ultimate pining seme. Part two follows them into the workplace after a breakup. 

I love this show so much, odds are I’m currently rewatching it as you read this. WBL is on WeTV. 

6. Until We Meet Again (Thailand 2019)

Thailand’s only entry in my 10/10 category (from the BL mass producer). This is non BL trope reliant fated mates (AKA soulmates) romance that just happens to have the right setting and age of protagonists to fit the BL genre. UWMA is a work of narrative genius, and all the actors all turn in stellar performances, it is the best Thai BL from a storytelling perspective. Possibly the best BL story we’ll ever get. It also takes full advantage of Thailand's signature full treatment, never dragging despite 17 full episodes. 

Timid sweetheart Pharm meets older serious Dean on his first day of university and is both irresistibly drawn to him and inexplicably sad. Dean starts an intense slow courtship but they both begin to realize they’ve been through this all before and one of them, 30 years ago in a previous life, made a terrible mistake. Can their current selves survive the sins and betrayals of their past? 

UWMA can be seen on YouTube. 

7. Semantic Error (Korea 2022) 

Korea hits it entirely out of the Parks (pun on the actors’ last names intended) by doing a university set BL with everything we might expect but done exactly right, their signature quality executed perfectly, and added bonus good story, great pacing, and fantastic chemistry. This one is actually flawless. You cannot ask for more from a BL, let alone a KBL. 

Talented graphic artist Jaeyoung (emotional agro older seme) discovers Sangwoo has outed him as a slacker which means he’s not graduating this year. He sets out to find out who Sangwoo is and get revenge, accidentally develops a big o’crush. Sangwoo is a morally grounded strict routine based reserved programmer (logical uke) who’s world is entirely shaken by the chaos that is Jaeyoung. I love “the only one who can bully him is me” trope especially when said bully melts into all over whipped for his boy. 

Jaeyoung pined like a master. Like Park Seo Ham took lessons from Sam Lin. And Sangwoo crumbles into complete submission like he’s been waiting for Jaeyoung his whole life. It’s an absolute pleasure to watch these two on screen together.

Full review here. Semantic Error is on Viki. 

8. Our Dating Sim (Korea 2023)

This is a perfect short form KBL, an office set reunion romance featuring geeks that really suits 8 eps with no fluff and no chaff. I adored every aspect from the casting to the pristinely simple premise to the quietly smooth execution. Sure it’s low stakes, but that makes it high domesticity and extremely warm and gentle.

This is a fuzzy blanket of a story - a cozy BL. It lives in my rewatch pile and you know what’s best about it? Every single episode is in that pile. There’s no skipping with this one, it might be good natured and calmly sweet but it’s tight and the pacing is excellent. Full review here.

On Viki. You want the series NOT the movie version.

9. I Cannot Reach You (Japan 2023)

AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai

This classic friends-to-lovers BL is everything Japan does best. Angsty. Emo. Aching. Driven by real thirst. Yamato is deeply in love with his childhood bestie, Kakeru, and has been for ages, unable to hide his ungainly damaging high school need. He wants Kakeru in every way possible and it oozes off of the screen.

Kakeru is silly and a little simple, but not frenetic or overly camp about it. He is earnest, and genuinely wants to keep Yamato in his life which means giving a romance (and gayness) a fair chance. We watch him realize his affection and what form it can take in a truly authentic way.

This show was impossibly kind to both of its lead characters (and all of the sides) and I felt almost honored that I got to watch something so lovely and rare play out on my screen. (Full review here.)

Kimi ni is not widely available. Some Netflix have it. It's indie subbed.

These are the only 9 BLs (of over 600+ watched & judged) that I've rated 10/10.

I consider Absolute BL 1 & 2 (Japan 2021-2022) mocumentaries and not true BLs. But I also gave them both 10/10. 

But you asked for 15 so here are 6 more (again no particular order). 

RATED 9/10 

HIStory 2: Crossing the Line (Taiwan 2018) - Taiwan’s best example of classic BL with a sports romance foundation using some of the most prototypical (but fortunately least offensive) yaoi tropes (Viki)

Be Loved In House: I Do (Taiwan 2021) - a cute classy office set BL with a few plot raised eyebrows, but no other concerns, plus ALL THE TROPES and a general sweet softness that’s pretty rare from Taiwan, who usually prefer to go hard (Viki)  

Utsukushii Kare AKA My Beautiful Man (Japan 2021) One of the best most traditionally live action yaoi to release in the last decade. It used seriously old school manga derived problematic and kinky tropes, like whipping boy, for a truly classic piece that also manages to hit up modern themes of communication, consent, and self acceptance. It’s a wonderful BL, uniquely dirty and harsh in the best possible way. (GaGaOOLaLa)

Bad Buddy (Thailand 2022) - GMMTV’s flagship BL started 2022 on a BANG (okay no actual banging but you know what I mean), starring heavy hitters Ohm & Nanon in a pitch perfect university Romeo & Romeo masterpiece that will give you domesticity meets pain whiplash throughout and jet lag at the end. (YouTube)

Cherry Blossoms After Winter (Korea 2022) - Korea took on early Japanese sweet yaoi but gave it their signature softness and precise production style with a STUNNING color palette (beautiful pastels, sun-saturated over-exposure), manga framing style, some traditional BL character archetypes, that tiny edge of bullying roughness and out-of-control seme, plus FINALLY a palatable take on the stepbrothers trope and it was, in a word, classic. Sophisticated and understated CBAW is not slow, it’s just subtle. It's dream-like and atmospheric, as if the whole thing took place under cold water on a warm spring day. Is there plot or peril? Not really. Do we care? Also, not really. Look, I can’t help it, I’m old school and so is this show. I grew up reading sweet yaoi, and this was THAT YAOI just on my screen. There’s no objectivity with me and CBAW. It’s a beautiful pastiche and I loved it for how it made me feel and what it reminded me of. It’s not flawless, but it is a wonderful quintessentially BL experience. (Viki) 

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun (Japan 2023) - Reserved cool kid who must lean to communicate to keep the tiny disaster nugget he’s madly in love with. It is beyond charming: soft and gentle, packed with cuteness and high school angst. Did anything actually happen? No. Was it emotionally tense and paced well enough for me not to notice? Absolutely. Was there plot? Not really. Did I enjoy the hell out of it, anyway? Oh yes. Full review. (Viki)

I have quite a few more 9/10 ratings then these but I tried to pick the ones that were the MOST BL-ish of the BLs. (Which is why Old Fashion Cupcake - my beloved - didn’t make the cut.) 

Further Reading? 

Here a list of my Favorite BLs From Each Country

More Top 10 Lists!

Top 10 Cutest BLs - sweet and fluffy for the win (low angst, no grit, and shiny happy) 

Top 10 Most Romantic BLs - yummy sappy goodness that even non BL fans might enjoy 

Top 10 Most Underrated BLs - the ones no one seems to know about or watch

Top 10 Cozy BLs - the ones least likely to hurt you

10 BLs with the best stories (foundational narratives) 

10 BLs That Are Honest to a Queer Experience

10 BLs with the BEST Chemistry

Best High School BL from Each Country

Best University BL from Each Country

My Top 60 BLs (of 600 watched) - The Elite 10%

Prestige BL - for the fancy pants among you

Top 10 BLs Out of China

Top 10 BLs Out of Japan

Top 10 BLs Out of Korea

Top 10 BLs Out of Taiwan

Top 10 BLs Out of Thailand

The 15 Absolute Worst BLs

This is me, the OCD completest, so these are gonna be a bunch of 1/10 rated BLs that no one has (quite rightly) bothered to watch. I also have 15 dnfs to my shame, but I don't rate what I didn't finish so...

You asked for 5, but I happen to have exactly 15 1/10 rated BLs, so you're just getting all of them (no particular order, they all suck, by which I mean: bad story, poor acting, low production, and/or very depressing ending). These all come with all the trigger warnings. 

A Round Trip to Love (China 2016)

Lost Love (China 2016)

The Male Queen (China 2016)

Sei no Gekiyaku (Japan 2020)

No Regret (Korea 2006)

A Frozen Flower (Korea 2008)

Some (Korea 2014)

The Boy Next Door (Korea 2017)

In Between Seasons (Korea 2018)

Red Wine in the Dark Night (Thailand 2015)

Grey Rainbow (Thailand 2016)

My Bromance the series (Thailand 2016)

Dew the Movie (Thailand 2019)

Love Machine (Thailand 2021)

The Shortest Distance is Round - Noir (Japan 2019)

Top 10 Most Disappointing Thai BLs

(source) 

this post subject to change as my taste does, and as new BLs appear, however tumblr has a bug where it will stop me from editing old posts suddenly and without warning. So at some point I may have to redo it.

So this is dated Nov 2023 - not responsible for great BL after that point.

[distantvoices]

Beanie Feldstein By Quentin Jones For The Sunday Times Style Magazine UK October 2021

[hldailyupdate]

“Harry Styles' Watermelon Sugar' has become the second longest-running song in the charts of all-time.”

“As of this Sunday afternoon, the 2019 track has now spent 64 weeks in The Official Big Top 40.”

-The Official Big Top 40 on how 'Watermelon Sugar' by has now spent 64 weeks inside the UK's biggest chart show. That's almost more than any other song EVER! (22 August 2021)

[brookston]

Holidays 6.23

Holidays

Alan Turing Day

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Bexit Referendum Day (UK)

Cadets Day (UK)

Coast Guard Auxiliary Day (US)

Cosmic Patience Day

Dancing Day (Elder Scrolls)

Dandruff Dance Day

Dzień Ojca (Father's Day; Poland)

Father’s Day (Nicaragua)

Festival of the Purple Void

Grand Duke's Birthday (Luxembourg)

Guru Rinpoche Day (Bhutan)

HHT Global Awareness Day

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)

International Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day

International Olympic Day

International Widows Day (UN)

International Women in Engineering Day

Ivan Kupala Day (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine)

Jurassic Plebiscite Commemoration (Jura, Switzerland)

Let It Go Day

Low Pressure Headache Awareness Day

Luxembourgish National Day

Mule Day (French Republic)

National Belly Button Day

National Columnists Day

National Day (Egypt)

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)

National Family Owned and Operated Businesses Day

National Hydration Day

National Pink Day

National Soil Health Day

National Tantra Education Day

Okinawa Memorial Day

Pink Flamingo Day

Poop Out Early Day

Public Service Day (UN)

Runner’s Selfie Day

Sankt Hans Aften (Denmark, Estonia, Norway)

SAT Math Day

Sonic the Hedgehog Day

SOS Day

Take Your Dog to Work Day

Tiki Tiki Tiki Day

Time to Let Go

Triumph Over Adversity Day

Typewriter Day

Voidupuha (or Jaaniõhtu; a.k.a. Victory Day, Estonia)

World Female Ranger Day

World Handball Day

World Olympic Day

World Whistleblower Day

XLH Awareness Day

Zamboni Day

Ziua Suveranităţii (Statehood Day; Moldova)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Rum Day

National Detroit-Style Pizza Day

National Pecan Sandies Day

National Porridge Day

4th Friday in June

ARRL Field Day begins (American Radio Relay League) [4th Friday & Saturday]

International Rosé Day (France) [4th Friday]

National Parma Violefs Day (UK) [4th Friday]

Take Your Dog To Work Day [Friday after 3rd Sunday]

Independence Days

Jura Canton Independence Day (Switzerland)

Skhodnya (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Statehood Day (Ziua Suveranităţii); Moldova)

Feast Days

Æthelthryth (a.k.a. Ethelreda or Audry) of Ely (Christian; Saint)

Agrippina (Christian; Saint)

Ancient Druidic Midsummer Baal

Anubis Ceremony (Ancient Egypt)

Baldur’s Day (Pagan)

Bob Marley Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Don John of Austria (Positivist; Saint)

Frank Bolle (Artology)

Jorė (Ancient Latvian Festival to Thundergod Perkūnas)

Joseph Cafasso (Christian; Saint)

Juan Toucan (Muppetism)

Kupala (Asatru/Slavic Pagan)

Marie (a.k.a. Mary) of Oignies (Christian; Saint)

Parrot Pondering Day (Pastafarian)

Rousalii (Celebrating the Romanian Goddesses)

St. John's Eve [and 1st Day of Midsummer celebrations] (a.k.a. ... 

Bonfires St. John's (Spain)

Drăgaica Fair ends (Buzău, Romania)

Festa de São João do Porto begins (Porto)

Golowan Festival begins (Cornwall, UK)

Jaaniõhtu (Estonia)

Jāņi (Latvia)

Kupala Night (Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine)

Līgo (Latvia)

Midsummer Eve (Denmark, Finland, Sweden)

Noc Świętojańska (Poland)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

Alice Gets Stage Struck (Disney Cartoon; 1925)

Batman (Film; 1989)

The Bear (TV Series; 2022)

Beaucoups of Blues, recorded by Ringo Starr (Song; 1970)

Buddy’s Bearcats (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

The Big Sick (Film; 2017)

Carolina, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2022)

Chain of Fools, recorded by Aretha Franklin (Song; 1967)

Chicken Run (Animated Aardman Film; 2000)

Click (Film; 2006)

Coming Home, by Leon Bridges (Album; 2015)

Copacabana (UK Musical Play; 1994)

The Devil Went Down to Georgia, by Charlie Daniels (Song; 1979)

Dope, by BTS (Song; 2015)

Emotional Rescue, by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1980)

The Enchanted Tiki Room (Disneyland Attraction; 1963)

GLOW (TV Series; 2017)

The Happiest Millionaire (Film; 1967

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (Film; 1989)

The House with a Clock in Its Walls, by John Bellairs (Mystery Novel; 1973)

Kelly’s Heroes (Film; 1970)

Knight and Day (Film; 2010)

The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1971)

Murder by Death (Film; 1976)

My Sharona, by The Knack (Song;1978)

No Hard Feelings (Film; 2023)

Octopussy and the Living Daylights, by Ian Fleming (Short Story Collection; 1959) [James Bond #14]

Old (Film; 2021)

Pocahontas (Animated Disney Film; 1995)

Red Octopus, by Jefferson Starship (Album; 1975)

A Shot in the Dark (Film; 1964)

Suits (TV Series; 2011)

Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond (Song; 1969)

The Tracks of My Tears, by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Song; 1965)

Tugboat Granny (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

Tummy Trouble (Roger Rabbit Cartoon; 1989)

Von Ryan’s Express (Film; 1965)

Wilfred (TV Series; 2011)

Today’s Name Days

Edeltraud, Marion, Ortrud (Austria)

Josip, Marija (Croatia)

Zdeňka (Czech Republic)

Paulinus (Denmark)

Kalev, Malev, Malvo (Estonia)

Aadolf, Aatto, Aatu (Finland)

Audrey (France)

Edeltraud, Marion, Ortrud (Germany)

Agrippina, Aristoklis, Loulou (Greece)

Zoltán (Hungary)

Alice, Agrippina, Lanfranco (Italy)

Līga, Ligita, Ligonis (Latvia)

Arvydas, Vaida, Vanda, Zenonas (Lithuania)

Eldrid, Elfrid (Norway)

Agrypina, Albin, Bazyli, Józef, Piotr, Prosper, Wanda, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Agripina (România)

Alexandra, Antonina (Russia)

Sidónia (Slovakia)

José, Zenón (Spain)

Adolf, Alice (Sweden)

Audra, Audrey, Dashawn, Deshawn, Elton, Ethel, Josiah, Josias, Shaina, Shania, Shaun, Shauna, Shawn, Shawna, Shayna, Shayne, Shonda (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 174 of 2024; 191 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 25 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 12 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Wu-Wu), Day 6 (Ren-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 4 Tammuz 5783

Islamic: 4 Dhu al-Hijjah 1444

J Cal: 24 Sol; Threesday [24 of 30]

Julian: 10 June 2023

Moon: 26%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 6 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Don John of Austria]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 3 of 94)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 3 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 6.23

Holidays

Alan Turing Day

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Bexit Referendum Day (UK)

Cadets Day (UK)

Coast Guard Auxiliary Day (US)

Cosmic Patience Day

Dancing Day (Elder Scrolls)

Dandruff Dance Day

Dzień Ojca (Father's Day; Poland)

Father’s Day (Nicaragua)

Festival of the Purple Void

Grand Duke's Birthday (Luxembourg)

Guru Rinpoche Day (Bhutan)

HHT Global Awareness Day

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)

International Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day

International Olympic Day

International Widows Day (UN)

International Women in Engineering Day

Ivan Kupala Day (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine)

Jurassic Plebiscite Commemoration (Jura, Switzerland)

Let It Go Day

Low Pressure Headache Awareness Day

Luxembourgish National Day

Mule Day (French Republic)

National Belly Button Day

National Columnists Day

National Day (Egypt)

National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)

National Family Owned and Operated Businesses Day

National Hydration Day

National Pink Day

National Soil Health Day

National Tantra Education Day

Okinawa Memorial Day

Pink Flamingo Day

Poop Out Early Day

Public Service Day (UN)

Runner’s Selfie Day

Sankt Hans Aften (Denmark, Estonia, Norway)

SAT Math Day

Sonic the Hedgehog Day

SOS Day

Take Your Dog to Work Day

Tiki Tiki Tiki Day

Time to Let Go

Triumph Over Adversity Day

Typewriter Day

Voidupuha (or Jaaniõhtu; a.k.a. Victory Day, Estonia)

World Female Ranger Day

World Handball Day

World Olympic Day

World Whistleblower Day

XLH Awareness Day

Zamboni Day

Ziua Suveranităţii (Statehood Day; Moldova)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Rum Day

National Detroit-Style Pizza Day

National Pecan Sandies Day

National Porridge Day

4th Friday in June

ARRL Field Day begins (American Radio Relay League) [4th Friday & Saturday]

International Rosé Day (France) [4th Friday]

National Parma Violefs Day (UK) [4th Friday]

Take Your Dog To Work Day [Friday after 3rd Sunday]

Independence Days

Jura Canton Independence Day (Switzerland)

Skhodnya (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Statehood Day (Ziua Suveranităţii); Moldova)

Feast Days

Æthelthryth (a.k.a. Ethelreda or Audry) of Ely (Christian; Saint)

Agrippina (Christian; Saint)

Ancient Druidic Midsummer Baal

Anubis Ceremony (Ancient Egypt)

Baldur’s Day (Pagan)

Bob Marley Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Don John of Austria (Positivist; Saint)

Frank Bolle (Artology)

Jorė (Ancient Latvian Festival to Thundergod Perkūnas)

Joseph Cafasso (Christian; Saint)

Juan Toucan (Muppetism)

Kupala (Asatru/Slavic Pagan)

Marie (a.k.a. Mary) of Oignies (Christian; Saint)

Parrot Pondering Day (Pastafarian)

Rousalii (Celebrating the Romanian Goddesses)

St. John's Eve [and 1st Day of Midsummer celebrations] (a.k.a. ... 

Bonfires St. John's (Spain)

Drăgaica Fair ends (Buzău, Romania)

Festa de São João do Porto begins (Porto)

Golowan Festival begins (Cornwall, UK)

Jaaniõhtu (Estonia)

Jāņi (Latvia)

Kupala Night (Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine)

Līgo (Latvia)

Midsummer Eve (Denmark, Finland, Sweden)

Noc Świętojańska (Poland)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Premieres

Alice Gets Stage Struck (Disney Cartoon; 1925)

Batman (Film; 1989)

The Bear (TV Series; 2022)

Beaucoups of Blues, recorded by Ringo Starr (Song; 1970)

Buddy’s Bearcats (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

The Big Sick (Film; 2017)

Carolina, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2022)

Chain of Fools, recorded by Aretha Franklin (Song; 1967)

Chicken Run (Animated Aardman Film; 2000)

Click (Film; 2006)

Coming Home, by Leon Bridges (Album; 2015)

Copacabana (UK Musical Play; 1994)

The Devil Went Down to Georgia, by Charlie Daniels (Song; 1979)

Dope, by BTS (Song; 2015)

Emotional Rescue, by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1980)

The Enchanted Tiki Room (Disneyland Attraction; 1963)

GLOW (TV Series; 2017)

The Happiest Millionaire (Film; 1967

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (Film; 1989)

The House with a Clock in Its Walls, by John Bellairs (Mystery Novel; 1973)

Kelly’s Heroes (Film; 1970)

Knight and Day (Film; 2010)

The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1971)

Murder by Death (Film; 1976)

My Sharona, by The Knack (Song;1978)

No Hard Feelings (Film; 2023)

Octopussy and the Living Daylights, by Ian Fleming (Short Story Collection; 1959) [James Bond #14]

Old (Film; 2021)

Pocahontas (Animated Disney Film; 1995)

Red Octopus, by Jefferson Starship (Album; 1975)

A Shot in the Dark (Film; 1964)

Suits (TV Series; 2011)

Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond (Song; 1969)

The Tracks of My Tears, by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Song; 1965)

Tugboat Granny (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

Tummy Trouble (Roger Rabbit Cartoon; 1989)

Von Ryan’s Express (Film; 1965)

Wilfred (TV Series; 2011)

Today’s Name Days

Edeltraud, Marion, Ortrud (Austria)

Josip, Marija (Croatia)

Zdeňka (Czech Republic)

Paulinus (Denmark)

Kalev, Malev, Malvo (Estonia)

Aadolf, Aatto, Aatu (Finland)

Audrey (France)

Edeltraud, Marion, Ortrud (Germany)

Agrippina, Aristoklis, Loulou (Greece)

Zoltán (Hungary)

Alice, Agrippina, Lanfranco (Italy)

Līga, Ligita, Ligonis (Latvia)

Arvydas, Vaida, Vanda, Zenonas (Lithuania)

Eldrid, Elfrid (Norway)

Agrypina, Albin, Bazyli, Józef, Piotr, Prosper, Wanda, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Agripina (România)

Alexandra, Antonina (Russia)

Sidónia (Slovakia)

José, Zenón (Spain)

Adolf, Alice (Sweden)

Audra, Audrey, Dashawn, Deshawn, Elton, Ethel, Josiah, Josias, Shaina, Shania, Shaun, Shauna, Shawn, Shawna, Shayna, Shayne, Shonda (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 174 of 2024; 191 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 25 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 12 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Wu-Wu), Day 6 (Ren-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 4 Tammuz 5783

Islamic: 4 Dhu al-Hijjah 1444

J Cal: 24 Sol; Threesday [24 of 30]

Julian: 10 June 2023

Moon: 26%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 6 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Don John of Austria]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 3 of 94)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 3 of 31)

[modelsof-color]

Blésnya Minher by Claudia Knoepfel for The Sunday Times Style Magazine UK - January 2021

[bestmodelsource]

Rosie Huntington Whiteley for The Sunday Times Style UK August 2021 by Sonia Szóstak

[disillusionedmonster]

Go off Paul Barry.

Transcript:

PROF CORDELIA FINE: People engaged in contemporary debates about sex and gender identity have been harassed, intimidated, verbally abused, gratuitously offended, viciously smeared and forced from positions, roles or other professional opportunities. Some of our participants have been targets of these tactics.

- Pride and Prejudice in Policy, University of Melbourne, 4 October, 2022

Hello, I’m Paul Barry, welcome to Media Watch. And to a difficult conversation we need to have.

Two weeks ago on a Tuesday evening, around 100 people went to Melbourne University for a panel discussion chaired by former ABC radio host Jon Faine. The subject: Pride and Prejudice in Policy. 

But what promised to be a quiet night turned out to be anything but. As Faine lamented in The Age:

… eight or nine noisy trans activists tried – but failed — to shut down a forum I was chairing …

It … came as something of a shock … to find myself being aggressively accused of transphobia, of creating a risk to other people’s health and safety, simply for wanting to have a discussion.

- The Sunday Age, 9 October, 2022

In the days leading up to the debate, two trans activists had pulled out of the discussion, because they refused to share a platform with people they claimed were anti-trans activists.

And the ABC’s Paul Barclay had also stepped down from hosting the debate after getting slammed on Twitter when he tweeted he was looking forward to it:

Good to know you're looking forward to cheerfully discussing trans elimination with a bunch of cis people, you dick.

- Twitter, @eleanorevenstar, 21 September, 2022

… why would you participate in normalising transphobic hate speech ..?

- Twitter, @nick_nobody, 21 September, 2022

Importing UK TERFism into Australia. Shame.

- Twitter, @engagedpractx, 22 September, 2022

So, what exactly was the debate they wanted shut down? And why is this on Media Watch?

Well, around a year ago, two British broadcasters, the BBC and Channel 4, pulled out of a workplace diversity program run by the UK charity Stonewall, which champions LGBTQ rights, with the BBC’s Director-General Tim Davie issuing a statement to say: 

“… over time, our participation in the Programme has led some to question whether the BBC can be impartial when reporting on public policy debates where Stonewall is taking an active role.”

- BBC Statement, Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, 10 November, 2021

The BBC’s withdrawal came one month after high-profile BBC radio host Stephen Nolan published a 10-part podcast — which topped the charts on Apple and Spotify — examining whether the BBC’s editorial output had been affected by its relationship with Stonewall.

This had reportedly turned up:

… numerous instances of BBC internal policy and editorial output that appeared to breach the corporation’s own impartiality guidelines …

- Variety, 10 November, 2021

These included Stonewall being consulted on the BBC’s style guide and recruitment language and a BBC reporter presenting a Stonewall video on TikTok.

But Nolan’s key concern involved the BBC’s participation in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, which is essentially a competition for employers in which the BBC became a diversity champion. 

As Nolan’s colleague David Thompson explained:

DAVID THOMPSON: … the BBC said that some of the things that had helped them move up Stonewall’s equality index was that they had appointed the first-ever LGBTQ+ news correspondent and first gender and identity correspondent in BBC News; we’ve corporately adopted the term LGBTQ+, Stonewall’s term, and that we’ve been raising awareness of the importance of gender pronouns. That they’re all issues that Stonewall have lobbied on and that BBC has moved on, so that is prima facie evidence of Stonewall having some success influencing the BBC’s editorial. And I know some journalists in the BBC saw it exactly that way.

- Nolan Investigates: Stonewall, BBC Sounds, 13 October, 2021

Many will say those changes are good. 

But according to one BBC journalist, Samantha Smith, there was still a problem: that the BBC was in bed with a lobby group. And paying money to it and seeking its approval.  

As a presenter, she said, she had often been asked to do things for charity, but:

SAMANTHA SMITH: … I said no to everything. You know, I was absolutely clear on it that this is what the organisation expected of me personally, not to align myself to any cause or political position, however noble, however kind, however well meaning it seemed to be. 

- Nolan Investigates: Stonewall, BBC Sounds, 13 October, 2021

And why had she turned down all those good causes? Because the BBC’s absolute core principle, she said, was impartiality: 

SAMANTHA SMITH: And this is the difficulty I have with the BBC lining itself up with Stonewall in the way it has, being part of the Stonewall club, being marked by Stonewall …

DAVID THOMPSON: Paying money to Stonewall?

SAMANTHA SMITH: And paying money for Stonewall and using Stonewall’s language. How is that independent? How is that impartial?

- Nolan Investigates: Stonewall, BBC Sounds, 13 October, 2021

And why is all this relevant to Australia? 

Because the ABC and SBS belong to a near identical workplace diversity scheme run by the AIDS Council of New South Wales, or ACON. And like the BBC they pay thousands of dollars a year to do so.

In fact, the ABC is a star employer, winning gold in this year’s Australian Workplace Equality Index awards, where CEO David Anderson — who is also the ABC’s Editor-in-Chief — also won gold:

“I am honoured to receive this award and accept it on behalf of all of my colleagues at the ABC.”

- TV Blackbox, 28 May, 2022

David Anderson, who’s done a great job in boosting the broadcaster’s diversity, was nominated for the award by the ABC. 

So, what does the ABC have to do to achieve this ranking?

Documents released under FOI reveal the broadcaster wins points in a number of ways for providing a safe and inclusive workplace. And we should celebrate that because its commitment to diversity and inclusion is laudable.

The ABC also scored points for providing Sydney news presenter Jeremy Fernandez — who MC’d the 2022 Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards — for pro bono work and for sending delegates to LGBTQ conferences. And for having ABC staff march in Mardi Gras, which ABC News reported:

LYDIA FENG: There were 190 floats in the parade, including the first ever from the ABC.

- ABC News (NSW), 1 March, 2020

The ABC also scored points for having ABC boss David Anderson on the Mardi Gras float, but it was denied two further points it sought in the category of CEO speaking, with ACON ruling:

Marching in MG [Mardi Gras] isn’t evidence of speaking at events

- Australian Workplace Equality Index 2021

But the index is not just about diversity in the workplace.

The ABC also wins points from ACON for positive programming. For example, it picked up three points with its series First Day, about a trans child starting high school.

And it won a 2022 LGBTQ inclusion award for:

… the ABC podcast series, Innies and Outies … The series tells the LGBTQIA+ stories of those choosing to either come out or stay in, presented by ABCQueer's Mon Schafter.

- ABC Media Release, 27 May, 2022

What’s more, emails obtained under FOI by a women’s anti-trans group called ACON Exposed also show ACON’s ABC relationship manager offered editorial tips, including adding a help number, to boost the ABC’s Australian Workplace Equality Index score:

Just a thought for future LGBTQ related content and there are AWEI points in it too. 

- Email, Chris Nelson, ACON Pride in Diversity Relationship Manager, sent to the ABC, 25 August, 2020

ABC Classic presenter Russell Torrance was speaking to Ed Ayres on the importance of Wear it Purple Day … I think this is AWEI worthy.

- Email, Chris Nelson, ACON Pride in Diversity Relationship Manager, sent to the ABC, 28 August, 2020

And this is surely where the problems start. 

Because regardless of how good or worthy these programs are — and First Day won prizes around the world — having them scored by a lobby group raises questions about ABC impartiality. 

Imagine, for example, the ABC paying thousands of dollars to Greenpeace and winning prizes for running stories attacking the fossil fuel industry. Or paying money to the Australian Republican Movement and being rewarded for a series criticising the monarchy.

How would that be defensible or impartial? 

And what if the ABC also steered clear of debate on contentious matters, as it arguably does on transgender issues?

In August, Media Watch pointed out that the ABC had failed to cover the controversial closure of the UK’s famous Tavistock gender clinic.

And that it had given scant coverage of the High Court case against the clinic from Keira Bell, who alleged she had been rushed into treatment with puberty blockers without due care:

MINNIE STEPHENSON: When Keira was a teenager she desperately wanted to be a boy. Now 23, she regrets the transition she underwent and says instead she was struggling with a complex identity issue.

KEIRA BELL: I was lost and confused and, you know, I thought that was the solution to my problems and, you know, they led me to believe the same thing.

- Channel 4 News, 2 December, 2020

We also noted that the ABC had ignored legitimate medical debate about caution and safeguards in treating gender dysphoria in children. 

Two days later, ABC Sydney’s Josh Szeps invited Dr Philip Morris, who urges caution, to talk about these matters. This was his reaction:

DR PHILIP MORRIS: It’s wonderful to be invited by the ABC to put a point of view …

I feel, you know, the people on, who’ve been looking at this from the perspective of what’s best for children have been sort of standing, it’s like a, being at a dance hall and been waiting for the ABC to offer to take us for a dance. So I’m hoping I can do a few twirls with you today, but it’s great to be here. 

- Afternoons with Josh Szeps, ABC Sydney, 17 August, 2022

One week later, the ABC came under fire again as Q+A put together a panel to talk about inclusion in sport, and social media lit up with complaints from women about the lack of balance:

This weeks @QandA on @ABCaustralia is on trans inclusion in Women’s Sport. A panel of MEN & one woman who is openly pro trans. Where is OUR VOICE? The stories of WOMEN directly impacted by sex self ID.

- Twitter, @angijones, 22 August, 2022

Surely your announcement on the panel for this discussion is satire 

@QandA? Of course you’d include sportswomen affected by this.

- Twitter, @AstraNiedra, 22 August, 2022

ABC then added a female athlete to its panel at the last minute to meet those concerns. 

And last week there was criticism of another story from April this year on transgender athletes in women’s sport:

ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose said she regrets “serious editorial lapses” in a “misleading” ABC story about trans women in sport which did not include research that showed they can retain physical advantages.

- The Daily Telegraph, 14 October, 2022

Those comments were in response to a letter to the ABC chair from campaigning Liberal senator Claire Chandler, who wrote:

“I suggest that this series of errors and breaches of standards could only have occurred in circumstances where the author set out to make a predetermined case …”

- The Daily Telegraph, 14 October, 2022

Following a review, the ABC story was updated to include:

… more research, including a study showing transwomen in the US Air Force ran on average 12 per cent faster than biological women.

- The Daily Telegraph, 14 October, 2022

Now, we have not conducted a full audit of the ABC’s editorial coverage, but the concern here is that it is not impartial but one-sided.

So does the ABC believe that that's so? And does it accept that its partnership with a lobby group, ACON, could be a problem?

In short, the answer is no and no. It told us:

Participation in benchmarking indexes has no bearing on content commissioning processes and no influence on editorial content.

- Email, ABC spokesperson, 17 October, 2022

With a spokesperson highlighting the ABC’s “independence and integrity”, insisting the newsroom remains in control of all content and stating that editorial decisions are “not improperly influenced” by outside interests. Adding: 

The ABC has rigorous and independent pre- and post-publication processes to reinforce these standards.

- Email, ABC spokesperson, 17 October, 2022

We also approached ACON for comment. And it’s worth noting their representative pulled out of that Melbourne debate, claiming it was unsafe to take part. 

But we’re glad to say they did engage with Media Watch and answered all our questions. They told us: 

 We have not, and do not, provide any advice or guidance whatsoever on any editorial matters at the ABC, including on direction, coverage, policy, language or style or anything else related to the ABC’s editorial processes.  

- Email, Nicolas Parkhill, ACON CEO, 14 October, 2022

We also asked ACON if the ABC had ever lost points in the Australian Workplace Equality Index for critical or negative editorial coverage. And they told us: 

The manner in which the ABC covers LGBTQI issues editorially, or the tone or angle in which they are presented, does not impact their AWEI assessment. 

- Email, Nicolas Parkhill, ACON CEO, 14 October, 2022

However, the ABC has won points and awards for positive programming.

And emails from 2020 — obtained under FOI — show an ABC journalist seeking and receiving advice from ACON on the correct definition of the word family.

That may well be an isolated example.

But even if there is no editorial interference, changing the language and internal culture of a media organisation may still influence editorial values and programs’ story selection.

As Professor Alan Davison of the University of Technology Sydney told that controversial Melbourne University discussion:

ALAN DAVISON: When you sign up to any kind of scheme, particularly a ranking scheme that’s highly competitive that comes from an advocacy organisation, in a way you’re signing up to a partnership and an allyship with the values and the truth claims of that advocacy organisation. 

- Pride and Prejudice in Policy, University of Melbourne, 4 October, 2022

Now, we’re not suggesting the ABC should abandon its commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

And the BBC certainly has not. After cutting ties to Stonewall it put another diversity scheme in its place. 

The problem here is a media group partnering with and being rewarded by a lobby group — any lobby group. And how that can lead to perceptions of bias in coverage or to bias itself. 

We think the ABC should review the arrangement.

[thedevillikesphotography]

Jake Gyllenhaal official and alternative covers for The Sunday Times Style UK, photographed by Renell Medrano (2021).

[dailytomlinson]

Louis remains on UK Wealthiest Young Musicians according to Music News/Times!

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