Hot Salt Beef: The NEW Community/Dating Site for the Jewish LGBT Community!

HotSaltBeef, an exclusive and completely inclusive social networking site for Jewish LGBT (JLGBT) people, was launched on Sunday 6th April 2014.

After noticing a gap in the market for a networking site that integrates the social, cultural and community aspects of Jewish life specifically aimed at JLGBT people, Founder Allan Davis took a leap of faith and created HotSaltBeef — a social networking platform for JLGBT people where they can celebrate the things that connect them at their core, build a local and global online community, make business connections and perhaps even find love.

Hot Salt Beef is woven into the fabric of being Jewish. Who doesn’t like a Hot Salt Beef Sandwich? It’s something every Jewish person instantly associates with — it brings back memories of comfort, familiarity, belonging… and well, food.

Food forms a big part of Jewish culture. All the major Jewish festival revolve around the family sitting together for a big meal… It’s what brings us together.

And therein lays the philosophy behind HotSaltBeef: Family, safety, connection, community, conversation, comfort, love and belonging.

Being an exclusive social networking site for JLGBT people may seem like a shortcoming at first, but the truth is there are certain things that are so uniquely Jewish that we need a space where we can connect and converse comfortably without having to provide a ‘backstory’… We sometimes want to 'kibbitz' (gossip) in a chat room and 'kvetch' (complain) about the rising house prices, without feeling the need to explain what we are actually doing.

Apart from that, because of our displacement throughout history, Jewish people have an almost genetic urge to build communities and find a ‘place called home’.

HotSaltBeef has the potential to provide that sense of togetherness and 'home-coming' online… And that’s why HotSaltBeef is ‘keeping kosher’.

Instead of having a single focus — being a dating site only — HotSaltBeef is more like the bakery in a Jewish neighborhood… a place where you get your bagels, perhaps bump into your lawyer or doctor and if you like, flirt with the 'Shaineh maidel' (beautiful young lady) behind the counter. The dating element is still there but the focus is much more on community building — it is not about ‘sex’ or about posting photos of your tuchas (or any other revealing bits) for the world to see.

‘HotSaltBeef and Mustard’ is the newsletter and blog section, bringing news and views from around the world. The aim is to involve members from across the globe to contribute with their reviews, travel tips, fresh and relevant news events and historical insights to strengthen the fabric of our online community.

In terms of future developments, HotSaltBeef will soon include a Business Directory for members to promote their own business or to recommend a business that may interest the community, and also host a classifieds section to sell anything from rare Barbara Streisand CDs to advertising holidays.

While the site is still in its teething-phase, membership is limited to ‘invitation only’ and the first 500 members who sign up will receive a FREE membership.

For more information about signing up, visit http://hotsaltbeef.com/

For more information contact Allan Davis:

email: allan@hotsaltbeef.com

Allan Davis, the Founder and creator of HotSaltBeef has been an out and proud Jewish gay man for over 30 years. His Gay and Jewish bits come in equal parts. Born in London in the 1960’s Allan had a very Jewish upbringing and education. He ‘came out’ in 1983, when the world was a very different place for LGBT people: being Out & Proud still raised eyebrows and marriage and having children wasn’t even an option. Thirty years later and the world is… well, almost as good as a Hot Salt Beef Sandwich. Allan’s only worry now is to convince his father to pay for a big wedding!

Editorial: “Everyone Loves A Lesbian”

by Bo Sellers

While attending the BCS National Championship game with my uncle and his fraternity brothers, I hoped we’d discuss the impending win of our shared alma mater, Florida State, while simultaneously engaging in drunken debauchery.  However, the boys club was a little more interested in trying to “understand” my sexuality.  I spent the entire pre-game answering a lot of pretty stereotypical questions about being a lesbian.

“What constitutes ‘sex’?”  “Who’s the ‘man’ of the relationship?” “Don’t you miss c*ck?” etc.  However, my fave question was a little deeper.  “Why did you “choose” to be gay?  No one else in the family is.”  I immediately launched into a programmed comedic-monologue of sorts I’ve performed many times over the last eight months.  “As far as YOU know.  No one else in the family tells dick-jokes for a living either.  It’s pretty safe to say I’m the black-sheep of the fam.  I won’t miss c*ck because my ex taught me you don’t NEED one, and if more women find this out men are going to be in big trouble.  I didn't “choose” to be gay, I was born this way because I’m an attention whore and everyone loves a lesbian, especially baby Jesus.”

While explaining to these Southern gentlemen multiple benefits of being a lesbian, it occurred to me they were less interested in logistics and more interested in developing material for their spank banks.  Amidst our discussion, I was able to develop a few pretty sound arguments for God’s condonation of all things lesbi and his blessing for as much sex as possible.

5.  Synced Periods - If God wanted to hinder lesbian relationships, he probably wouldn’t have designed women to have concurring periods with the lady friends they spend the most time with.  Allowing for just as much sex, if not more, than straight relationships, obvi God appreciates the love between lesbis.  Deductively, it could also be argued that God loves gay boys even a little more because they’re relationships are entirely period-free.

4.  Sharing is Caring -  Chicks can share a restroom stall without raising suspicion to sexual foreplay, which is totes a benefit for lesbi relationships.  Once again, allowing for optimal sexy time since you can literally eff whenever and wherever there’s a bathroom.  Even if you aren't down for bathroom sex, when you go home with a lady you can borrow some clothes in the AM to make your journey home without looking like a sloppy-shacking-whore on your walk of shame.  

Which segues nicely to my next argument…

3.  We can eff from any angle - Whether you like being bent over couches, effed against walls, or playing with each other’s poonahnahs parked in front of a 7-11, where there’s a will, there are a gazillion ways to get your lady friend off from any position without having to worry if your partner’s “dick” is gonna slip out from an awkward position.  

2.  The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the human body - I’ve drank way too much coffee today to focus on researching the validity of this statement, but my tongue absolutely has more stamina than any other muscle I’ve ever used.  If vaginas were a canvas, the tongue would be the sturdy brush that paints the most brilliant lines, while putting a “p” in a “v” more closely resembles hammering a giant bolt into a birthday cake when it fits better with a steel bridge.  Which would totes shred the cake and require more clean-up.  That’s why rainbows are so effing fab.  Obvi it’s God’s artistry from licking the earth’s vagina.

1.  Two Moms - Anyone who’s ever had a, even half decent, mother wouldn’t object to having two.  Moms are the best.  Not to knock dad’s, but I was raised by a single mom and it sure would’ve been nice to have a spare nearby after she died.  Women are naturally more compassionate.  Lesbian relationships not only provide super loving families, but can take turns stretching out their bodies to shoot babies from their poonahnahs.

***

If baby Jesus didn’t love lesbians, he sure wouldn’t make being one so effing convenient.  He’d probably make lesbianism more like trying to find parking in Los Angeles, impossible and resulting in a ticket that can only be cleared by delivering your first born in a gold-plated onesie.  Next time people express interest in my sexuality, I’ll just direct them to this article with a flip of my hair and a snarky “kthanksBYYYYYYYE, I’ve got p*ssy to lick.”

LesBook Review: Beyond the Pale

Now I'm not sure about you, but when you think of lesbian fiction, would you even think to associate it with historical events?

I certainly didn't, but Beyond the Pale proves it can be done.

Beyond the Pale is a novel revolving around the trials and tribulations faced by two young Jewish girls who have to simultaneously face becoming an immigrant and also realising that they are, in fact, gay. (It is not my style to reveal too much of the plot, so I'll leave that up to you!)

From the get-go, this novel's concept is exciting and accurate. Personally, I've never come across another lesbian book that deals with plot lines that intertwine religion, world issues, identity and culture with lesbianism - something that is much easier to find in LGBT movies. (Think I Can't Think Straight and The World Unseen.) However, this book successfully combines a lesbian love story with a piece of historical fiction.

Not only is the plot forever evolving and thought-provoking, the use of language is exceptional. The traditional Jewish lexicon makes for pleasant reading, with the sound of Hebrew and Yiddish words alongside the English sounding like a song in prose.

Unlike many lesbian books, this reads more like a classic novel. The author - who's alias is, fittingly, Elana Dykewomon - is quite clearly educated and passionate: an all-round great writer. And like classic novels, the entire introduction to the book sets the scene. Rather than jumping straight into the usual predictable narrative, the writer gives you the perfect amount of background so that you can really understand the characters and get into their heads.

This book is suitable for all adults - gay, straight, Jewish or not. Those who are Jewish may particularly relate however, as some of the themes and events in the novel particularly resound with real life. That said, anyone who has struggled with their sexual orientation as a result of their culture and upbringing will relate to this book in some way - it really does have something for everyone.

From now on, if someone asks me for a good piece of lesbian fiction to read, I will no doubt be recommending Beyond the Pale.

Born This Way Banned... AGAIN?!

Yep, you heard it. Lady Gaga's epic gay-loving album, Born This Way, has been banned in yet another country.

There's Gaga above, who won the Fashion Icon prize this week at the CDFA Fashion Awards.

Also this week, BTW was banned in Lebanon, after Father Abdo Abu Kassm, director of the Lebanon Catholic Information Centre announced the following:

"If they are going to offend us we are going to cancel the album. We will not accept that anyone insult the Virgin Mary or Jesus or Christianity ... Call us traditional, call us backward, call us whatever you want. We will not accept it."

So basically, Father Kassm is inviting us to call his people ridiculous. Surely if those religious people that this records 'offends' hate the idea of religious 'insults' so much, they just wouldn't buy it?

Also, have Lebanon not heard how Gaga herself is Catholic?

Gaga frequently mentions her love for God and her faith, prays every time she goes on-stage and her tweets reflect that fact.

Furthermore, she has explained the meaning of the song 'Judas' - one of the songs which is causing this controversy, and have revealed that Judas is simply a metaphor for a guy she dated and kept going back to, even though he betrayed her. (Which is sort of what happened in the Bible).

I'm also pretty sure that Gaga's hit single Born This Way, which contains the lyrics "No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to survive", were some of those words that also offended said Catholic religion mongers.

Why don't they just censor or cut those words from the album? I mean, I'm sure Gaga would be opposed to it, but it doesn't mean that those in Lebanon who are struggling with their sexuality should be forbidden from hearing her song about individuality.

Personally, I find this ridiculous that today, free speech and freedom to purchase which music records you want to purchase are forbidden in certain countries.

Which country do you think will ban Born This Way next? Comment below!

Oranges Aren't The Only Fruit

In the past, I've blogged about the more homophobic goings on at my college. However, for once, I have some positive to write about on the gay front.

I was casually strolling past the DVD section in our college library (I was actually about to leave) when what should I see but the movie version of Jeanette Winsterson's Oranges Aren't The Only Fruit.

'Oranges' follows a lesbian girl and her partner who is adopted into a religious family. Obviously, the fact that this DVD even existed in such a close proximity to my own home (clearly ignoring my personal DVD collection) surprised me because in a small town like ours, most people have very old-fashioned views on homosexuals.

The fact that the movie was there for everyone to see - it wasn't pushed to the back, gathering dust, it was actually on the front row! - put a smile on my face and simply inspired me to write this blog.

So whoever put it there or suggested it should be available for rent in a public library, I salute you.

P.s. Since when could you take out DVDs in a library? Surely that is what Blockbuster is for...

Message to all gays: GO TO HELL!

This morning, as a Christian, I picked up my Bible to re-read the book of Corinthian. Now I know that the Bible isn't the most gay friendly book of all time, but the following extract made me briefly hate religion in its entirety.

"1 Corinthians 6:9,10,13
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God."

Now I'm not saying the Bible is wrong - maybe homosexuals are forbidden from going to heaven - but surely, if God is as 'all-giving' and as 'all-loving' as Christianity implies, shouldn't all people, no matter what their race or beliefs are, go to heaven?


Usually, I believe in everything the Bible says, but this extract made me question if I believed in this statement against homosexuals. Then I realized, maybe I do believe this phrase to be true. Maybe it's true that deceased homosexuals reside in hell, next to the murderers and rapists.

No, I'm turning against gay people and 'changing my lifestyle' to become a heterosexual, I'm simply stating that I would rather go to hell than betray myself and my fellow gay people. I'm saying now that I'd rather be gay and happy in my lifetime, and go to hell as a result, than be walking around pretending to be heterosexual and have an extremely unhappy life, just so that I can walk through the pearly gates.

If the Bible says I go to hell for being gay, then so be it. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am going to hell. I am going to hell for committing a 'crime' that doesn't even exist among Western culture. I am going to hell because I am not a liar and I am not in denial. I am gay and proud now, and I will continue to be when God asks me if I have sinned during my time on Earth.

So gays, go to hell. I'll see you there!