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I S S U E S I X T Y- NINE 0 9/12
W W W.OU T M AG .C O.UK
£FREE
Gay dad
The Alternative
Parenting
Show 2012
Berlin
A beginner’s
guide to
Germany’s
gay capital
Scott Mills
T H E RADIO ONE STAR
ON HIS LIFE , LOVES
A N D AUTO BIO GR AP H Y
’
INSIDE DAVID SHENTON... ROSS WATSON ... BRIGHTON PRIDE
LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR... MYRA DUBOIS
OUT IN THE CITY SEPTEMBER 2012
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CONTENTS
04 LETTERS
Send your
correspondence to
editorial@outmag.
co.uk
06 MY LONDON
Cartoonist and
illustrator David
Shenton gives us his
capital highlights…
10 SCOTT MILLS
The Radio One
presenter talks to
David Hudson about
his career, love life,
and missing out on
the Breakfast Show
slot…
15 DIARY
September’s cultural
highlights and arts
listings, plus a
preview of a new
exhibition from
painter Ross Watson
18 BRIGHTON
PRIDE
A preview of what to
expect from this
year’s Pride Brighton
& Hove
16
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON
Publishers
Sarah Garrett
Linda Riley
I was very moved this month by the online images
of a gay Pride parade that took place in Uganda a
few weeks ago. The country has the dubious honour
of being one of the worst places in the world to be
gay. This month’s cover star, Scott Mills, made a
documentary last year about the desperate plight of
the country’s LGBT community, with many
experiencing violent homophobia or forced to lead
secret lives. How wonderful to see a handful of
brave individuals take such a stand – and appear to
be having such a fun time in the process!
Such aggressive homophobia is not, of course,
confined to certain parts of Africa. I find the
situation faced by Russia’s LGBT community
depressing and incredibly frustrating. Following the
city governors of St Petersburg passing a law
banning any promotion or public expression of
homosexuality, city officials in Moscow have upheld
a ban on Pride parades taking place in the city for
the next 100 years. It sends out a message of hatred
and utter contempt for gay people – and it’s one
that I find deeply offensive.
It really does make one appreciate how lucky we are
here in the UK. Even in comparison to the US, where
members of the Republican party are trotting out
their usual homophobic clap-trap in the run up to
the November Presidential elections, we really do
live in one of the most gay-friendly places in the
world. Of course, that’s not to say everything is
perfect. Homophobic attitudes and bullying persist.
However, these news stories make me grateful that I
don’t live in a country where I’d feel obliged to hide
my sexuality. Many of our gay brothers and sisters
can but dream of the freedoms that we enjoy.
Summer is sadly drawing to a close, but this month
offers a couple of late opportunities to demonstrate
your gay pride, with the fabulous Pride Brighton &
Hove on Saturday 1 September, followed by Summer
Rites in London on Sunday 2 September. Here’s
hoping the sun decides to stay out for both events!
© ROSS WATSON
Photographer
Chris Jepson
Scott Mills
35
20 MUSIC
New albums from
Pet Shop Boys and
The Vaccines
22 FILM
Lawless, Berberian
Sound Studio and
Hope Springs
reviewed, plus an
interview with
Sheldon Larry,
director of Leave It
On The Floor
28 THEATRE
Chariots of Fire
reviewed, plus
theatre news
31 OUT THERE
Scene highlights for
September, Myra
Dubois, Ku Bar and
UK Black Pride
40 PROPERTY
Newlon’s new QN7
development, plus
items for the home
46 OUTNEWS
Gay news from
home and abroad
48 MAN ON TOP
Deputy head teacher,
Shaun Dellenty
50 LEGAL
EAD Solicitors
52 PARENTING
The Alternative
Parenting Show,
Dawson Cornwell on
co-parenting
agreements and
London Sperm Bank
58 TRAVEL
Berlin for beginners,
plus the White Party
63 BODY & SOUL
Agony uncle,
running for a good
cause, and Body Talk
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3
READERS’ LETTERS: SEPTEMBER 2012
FEEDBACK
S E N D YO U R P R A I S E , R A N TS O R C O M M E N TS TO
E D I TO R I A L@ O U T M A G . C O . U K - A LL L E T T E R S P R I N T E D W I N A P R I Z E …
DEAR JOHN
I read on Page 42 of August’s
issue an article about John
Barrowman helping to launch
the Kaleidoscope Trust. When
I turned to Page 44 to discover
the list of the 100 most
influential LGBT people of the
year, whose name wasn’t
there…? John’s!
I feel John has done a lot for
the gay community. Some of
the 100 mentioned I’d never
heard of. I wonder why he was
omitted from the list? I
checked it twice. Perhaps I
missed it!
FALLEN PRIDE
Alex, N7
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Wil, Crouch End
PHOTO © LOCOG
I was interested to read your coverage of this year’s World Pride in
London, which this year turned into an embarrassing shambles. As
far as I understand, Manchester Pride has 3-4 full-time staff. As
David Hudson points out in his editorial, perhaps Pride London
must now consider having full-time, salaried staff – especially 1-2
full-time fundraisers. It would be wonderful if Pride could be
organised by volunteers and good will alone, but its own history
would suggest that this is not the case. London’s recent Olympics
were so successful partly through the efforts of so many thousands
of volunteers – but the Games would not have happened if people
weren’t in place to guide and organise those volunteers – and you
can be sure that those people, from Lord Coe downwards, were
paid! I hope that attention on Pride London does not now fade
away, rekindling again only next spring. The organisation needs to
get its house in order now, and I hope that it continues to engage
with, and seek to involve, the community it claims to represent.
OLYMPIC OMISSION
The Olympic Games have been
very successful, and we hope
this will prove beneficial to our
country and that there will be
true legacy. In the run up to,
and throughout the games, we
heard much reference to
“inclusivity” and “equality”.
The implication was that they
were now truly in place, but
there has been one glaring
omission. Where were the
LGBT community?
At Danny Boyle’s much
applauded Opening Ceremony,
we saw the Suffragette
movement depicted, the arrival
of the Empire Windrush,
bringing passengers from
Jamaica to start new lives in
the UK and heralding the start
of the significant contribution
of the black and other ethnic
communities to Great Britain,
but where was any mention of
the LGBT community’s long
and ongoing battle for
recognition, acceptance and
equality, or portrayal of their
everyday contribution to
British society?
At a time when homophobia in
sport is a major problem and
there was only one ‘out’ Team
GB athlete competing, why
were the Games not used to
highlight this? Probably,
because daily, throughout this
country and in spite of the
Equality Act, we are the one
minority group that can be
sidelined and ignored, often
with impunity. Research
indicates that young LGBTs
avoid physical activities during
their early years due to
homophobia and fear of
bullying. We missed our one
opportunity to show that in
Great Britain and throughout
the World, “Gay is Good”.
Andrew Brettell, Whitstable
Everyone who had a
letter published this
month won a copy
of new DVD North
Sea Texas.
Anyone who has a letter published in the October issue of Out In The City will win a copy of Leave It On The Floor on
DVD. This fun musical is set on the LA ball/vogue scene. Check out our interview with director Larry Sheldon on page
26. The film is released on DVD on 10 September by Peccadillo Pictures.
The writer of October’s Star Letter will win a copy of Leave It On The Floor and another LA-based gay-themed movie;
The Mission. The film – starring Benjamin Bratt – tells the tale of a macho father’s attempts to deal with his own
homophobia when his son comes out as gay. It’s out now through TLA Releasing.
Send letters to [email protected], and please include your name and address if you want to be in with a chance
of winning a prize.
LISTED LONDONER
MY LONDON
CARTOONIST AND ILLUSTRATOR DAVID
SHENTON GIVES US HIS CAPITAL
HIGHLIGHTS...
Portrait by
CHRIS JEPSON
Where do you come from
originally?
Aquarium, where I clean the
clams.
Ashton-under-Lyne: a tranquil
beauty spot, north of Watford.
Favourite green space?
I now live very, very close to
the Barbican, having lived for
15 ‘loverly’ years in Clapton
Pond (not in the pond itself, of
course), Hackney. But then it
went and got itself all poshed
up, so I left.
What’s the best thing about
living in London?
I quite liked the time when
somebody behind me at the
theatre was talking throughout
the play and I turned round
and told him to shut up… and it
was Dustin Hoffman!
…and the worst?
I honestly can’t think of
anything. Sitting in a theatre
seat in front of Dustin
Hoffman?
What are your favourite
restaurants?
I like Ed’s Diner in Old
Compton Street. It’s stuck in
the middle of the road so you
can see right down the street –
it’s like being part of the
fabulous opening sequence
from Absolute Beginners – a
massively underrated movie –
and it’s got peanut butter
milkshakes. I also like Amici
Miei on Kingsland Road, just
up from Shoreditch, especially
the cappuccino cocktails.
Where do you go drinking?
That will be the Joiners Arms,
Hackney Road (pictured). I
mostly go for fashion tips, but
never after 11pm, when it
seems all fashion flies out the
window. They have these
utterly fantastic murals on the
walls that are changed
regularly to even better ones.
Favourite tourist haunt?
London Zoo. It’s got the best
beach in London… I’ve
volunteered every weekend in
the Bug House for the last ten
years, feeding cockroaches and
endangered snail species,
counting Leaf-Cutter Ants,
holding and talking about
massive spiders, etc. That said,
I’ve just moved on to the
6
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Victoria Park, but only when
LoveBox is on. But definitely
not when Ed Sheeran is
playing. Please... what is that
all about, eh?
Where do you escape the city?
I have a friend who has a flat
behind the flashing neon signs
of Piccadilly Circus, where I
can always enjoy a vegan coffee
and karma sitting on an organic
bean bag.
What’s the most you’ve paid for
a cab, and to where?
I’m a complete taxiphobe. I’ve
never been in one. Anyway, I
have my bus pass.
If you were mayor for a day,
what would you do to improve
London?
I just looked up ‘Mayor For A
Day’ on Google and it says
Caroline Gonzalez (11) of
Forney, Texas, USA was made
‘Mayor For A Day’ in her home
town, and she renamed Main
Street, ‘Justin Bieber Way’, so
I’d like to do that. I’ll choose
The Mall.
Name a place or location of
sentimental value to you…
I have a cartoon carved on a
headstone in Highgate
Cemetery, very close to Karl
Marx. A dear friend of mine…
(no, not Karl Marx, of course).
Favourite London song…
‘La Cucaracha’. I can sing it in
Cockney rhyming slang.
What’s London’s most beautiful
building?
The Monument – to the Great
Fire of London – by Sir
Christopher Wren. It’s 62
metres of Portland stone
topped with a gilded urn of
fire. I like Charles Dickens’
description the best; “The
Monument… with every hair
erect upon his golden head, as
if the doings of the City
frightened him.”
Are you single, partnered or
dating?
Who’s asking?
For regular David Shenton cartoons
and updates, like his page, ‘These
Foolish Things’ on Facebook.
WITH THANKS TO THE JOINERS ARMS, HACKNEY
Where do you currently live
and when did you move there?
BAROMETER: SEPTEMBER 2012
E N J OY A B I G G AY L I F E ST Y L E , C H E C K O U T O U R O U T I N T H E
C I T Y A P P, A N D PA R TA K E I N T H E FA B U LO U S PA R A M O U N T
F U N D R A I S E R F O R STO N E W A LL . . .
ON FIRE
PAVEL PETEL
Our new favourite Russian:
a muscled DJ with a habit
of stripping down to his
undies and running around
in wigs and heels. www.
pavel-petel.tumblr.com
APP
OF THE
MONTH
BORN THIS WAY BLOG
A moving collection of
stories from LGBT folk.
Each writer reflects on his/
her childhood...www.
borngaybornthisway.
blogspot.co.uk
APP OF
THE
MONTH
BIG AND GAY
The Big Gay Lifestyle Show returns to London on Saturday 20
October to the Grand Connaught Rooms (above) in Covent Garden.
Following last year’s inaugural event, the organisers – Square Peg
Media (publishers of Out In The City and g3) – promise that this
year’s event will be bigger and better. There will also be one important
change – register in advance and admission will be free!
We’ll bring you full details of the event in next month’s issue, but it
will include a diverse range of attractions – from live
entertainment, a pop-up cinema and art exhibitions to
book signings, games, auctions, karaoke
– plus a large marketplace and
exhibition area. For more details,
including how to become involved with
the event, go to http://www.
biggaylifestyleshow.com
Missed out on
picking up a copy
of Out In The
City? Don’t forget that you can read
the magazine via our App for iPhone
and iPad. It’s £1.99 per issue, or
£10.99 ($15.99) for a 12-month
subscription.
QUOTE
OF THE
MONTH
The now annual Event4Stonewall will be returning on Friday 28
September 2012. This glamorous and glitzy fundraiser always
attracts a large number of professional gay men, charity
supporters, celebrities and – in our humble opinion – plenty of
gorgeous hunks! Following last year’s sell-out party, the organisers
are again returning to Paramount, at the top of Centre Point. DJs
Terry Vietheer and Sonathaq will provide the soundtrack, and
there will be another big-prize raffle (last year’s offered a five-star
holiday to Thailand!). Previous events have been attended by Sir
Ian McKellen, Graham Norton and Stephen Fry. Tickets cost £25,
with all funds going to Stonewall. Buy yours now at http://www.
event4stonewall.co.uk/
8
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Summer was a lacklustre
affair, weather-wise, but
providing a spectacular
finale is Summer Rites! It
hits Shoreditch Park on
Sunday 2 September.
THIS
MONTH’S
RISE AND
FA L L
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
– THE ALBUM
“If you ask me ‘Am I gay?’,
I say yeah. Are these songs
about my relationship with
a man? I say yeah. And it’s
only through my music
that I’ve found the strength
to come to terms with my
sexuality beyond the
context of just my lyrics.
This is my real life.”
PARAMOUNT FUN
SUMMER RITES
Singer Mika gets frank about his
sexuality.
The album, the books, the
planned film… the whole
Fifty Shades of Grey
phenomenon is leaving us
somewhat perplexed!
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Russia’s president refuses
to acknowledge worldwide
condemnation for the
imprisonment of Pussy Riot,
and his country’s
widespread homophobia.
FUR FAUX PAS
Lady Gaga was snapped in
what appeared to be a
luxury fur coat, defending
her choice by saying some
items of clothing
constituted works of art!
ON ICE
PAVEL PETEL © SERGEY OSTRIKOV
THE WORD
C O V E R S TA R : S C O T T M I L L S
GREAT SCOTT!
S C OT T M I LLS I S O N E O F R A D I O O N E ’ S M O ST P O P U L A R P R E S E N T E R S . T H E
O P E N LY- G AY S TA R H A S B E E N W O R K I N G I N R A D I O S I N C E H E W A S A T E E N A G E R
AND, WITH OVER 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN THE BUSINESS, HAS NOW
P U B L I S H E D H I S A U TO B I O G R A P H Y. D AV I D H U D S O N C A U G H T U P W I T H H I M …
What prompted you to write your
autobiography?
Scott: A publisher came to me and said ‘Do
you want to do it?”, and at first I was like
‘Mmmmmmm… I’ve got nothing interesting
to say!” But then I thought, I’ve got quite a
lot of stories and have been in this industry
since I was 16, so it’s a long enough time to
do it. Actually, I found it quite cathartic
writing it. I quite enjoyed it.
Was there anything you found it difficult to
write about?
Having never done it before, I found the
structure of it was the hardest part: what to
put where, and creating chapters that make
sense, as the stories dart about everywhere.
There’s a lot about my teenage years, and
there’s a lot about depression and anxiety in
there, which I found quite hard to write
about, because when you write it all down
and you see it in print it’s quite scary! It’s the
10
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most that I’ve ever opened up to anyone, but
in a way, I feel quite good about it.
needs to be pressed. That never used to
happen [laughs].
Was is it hard to write about other people?
Did you worry about upsetting anyone?
Why do you think it became a problem?
Yeah, there is that. Obviously, I didn’t want
to make it a bitch-fest. You’re writing about
ex boyfriends, but I’m the kind of person
who keeps in touch with ex boyfriends, so
it’s kind of fine. There are a couple of stories
about famous people that might surprise, but
they’re not done in a bitchy way. The worse
thing is, you think, “Who have I left out?”
Because there will be people who are
probably thinking that they might get a
mention.
“I was a fat
child and chubby
teenager, and when I
got to London I
thought, yeah, I’d better
lose some weight, and
I went about it in a
drastic way.”
Have any of your family read it yet?
No. That’s happening next week. And I think
they’re a little bit nervous about it. I don’t
know why, because obviously they’re my
family and I’m nice about them
Are you nervous about them reading it?
I am a little bit. There’s a whole big section
about me being very drunk most of the time,
when I first started at Radio One, and they
kind of know about it, but I don’t think they
know the extent!
Have you stopped drinking now?
No, not at all. I did, for a while, because I
just wasn’t well with it. I drink now and
again, but I know when the stop button
I just think I was… there are a few things in
the book that you’ll see really affected me.
Like the death of people close to me. I think
that, also, at that time, I was getting up at
3am every morning. Back then, around 2003,
my whole team were the only people in that
time zone, so we always used to go out,
because there was nothing else to do –
nobody else was around. I just think it’s easy
working in a media circle, as well, to fall into
that, to go to the pub every night or every
day, or whatever. And at some point you
realise that the chain needs to be broken, but
it took me a while to realise that.
You talk about other issues in the book, such
as problems around your weight and
suffering from anxiety attacks. Do you feel
more in control of those now? Do you still
suffer from anxiety?
I do, but I’ve learnt… it’s been such a long
time that I’ve had it, that I kind of know
when it’s there and I know when I’m feeling
down and I can kind of deal with it a bit
more. I still have times when I just need to
switch my phone off, at a weekend or
something. It’s important for me to have
some ‘me’ time, or I go a bit mad. But
everything else... the alcohol I feel in control
of. Often, I’ll have a drink with my friends,
but it’s not anything like it used to be at all.
In fact, a lot of times I’ll completely abstain
when everyone else is drinking, which never
used to happen. And the weight thing, I
became obsessed with it in my 20s, because I
was a fat child and chubby teenager, and
when I got to London I thought, yeah, I’d
better lose some weight, and I went about it
in a drastic way. Now, I’m not fat or thin, I’m
just kind of me, and I’m much happier about
that.
A lot of people won’t realise that you started
your career so young, working for a local
radio station when you were just 16. Was it
always what you wanted to do? Were you
ambitious?
I was kind of subconsciously ambitious. I
guess I must have been ambitious, but I
PHOTO © ROB LOW
Scott Mills joined Radio One in 1998, but
it wasn’t until 2004, with the launch of
the early evening ‘Drivetime’ show, that
he became a household name. Mills had
been working hard for many years prior to
this – gaining his first job at the tender age
of 16 after bombarding his local radio
station, Hampshire’s Power FM, with his
demo tapes!
Mills has cemented his position as one of the
nation’s favourite radio presenters, and has
gone on to cultivate a TV career, presenting
the National Lottery and offering live
commentary on the Eurovision Song Contest,
among other programmes. In 2011, he
presented an award-winning documentary
on LGBT life in Uganda (The World’s Worst
Place to Be Gay?). He’s also in demand for
private bookings and corporate gigs, and
makes regular DJ appearances around the
world. Now aged 39, and presenting the
afternoon Scott Mills Show on Radio One,
he’s decided to reveal more about his life
with the publication of his autobiography,
Love You Bye. The book reveals that behind
his seemingly self-assured and slick banter,
the presenter has sometimes struggled with
his own demons.
C O V E R S TA R : S C O T T M I L L S
wasn’t confident with it at all. I wasn’t,
“I’m gonna get there by this time, and this is
going to happen…” I didn’t really have a
path. I just knew that I wanted to work in
radio, wherever it was. And partly, the
reason that I did my partying so late, was
because from the age of 16 onwards, I was in
a radio studio at various crap times of day, so
I didn’t really do what 18-year-olds do. I
didn’t go out, I didn’t really see my friends. I
was working nights… locked up in a radio
station on an industrial estate somewhere!
a store in Essex and I met him through a
friend of a friend, and he’s lovely and I’ve
been seeing him for over a year now. And he
has to deal with my weird job, which
involves me going away a lot. At the moment
I’m going away to Greece every weekend to
do DJ gigs, and obviously there’s a radio
show every day which is my routine day job,
but also there’s a lot of stuff that I do around
that. It’s irregular hours, and I can get tired
and grumpy sometimes, and he puts up with
it and is lovely, so I’m lucky. I’m a lucky boy.
After his eight-year stint, Chris Moyles is
leaving the Breakfast Show slot this month.
You’ve often filled in for him while he’s been
away. Was there any disappointment on your
part that you weren’t offered the position of
full-time host?
Are you in favour of same-sex marriage?
Absolutely. I was talking about this to
someone yesterday. I don’t understand why
it doesn’t just go through, but would I do it
myself? I can’t imagine myself doing that, to
be honest.
Erm… do you know what? If this had
Why not?
happened three or four years ago, and I
I don’t know! You know when you can’t
hadn’t got it, I’d have been quite
visualize something in your head? And I just
surprised and I would have probably
can’t, but I’m fully behind it, of course. It’s
been very disappointed, because I feel
something that I would totally consider, but
that at one point I was in line for it.
I just can’t imagine myself doing it [laughs].
Now that it’s happened, I kind of don’t
Do you feel the job of being a radio DJ has
want to do it anymore [laughs].
changed in the last 20 years, or is it still
And, you’ve also got to see
basically the job you set out to do?
it from a Radio One
I think it’s massively changed.
perspective. They can’t
If you think about the job I
“I don’t
replace like for like.
set out to do when I was
think there’s age
They need someone
16, you could probably
discrimination at
younger, because
only call a radio station
all… but [Radio One]
that’s the remit of the
on the phone. You
has to remain relevant
radio station. So, this
couldn’t text them,
time, to be honest, my
you couldn’t get hold
and if somebody, like an
time passed, both for
older artist, is not relevant of them on Twitter or
them and for me. It’s
Facebook. Social
to a younger audience,
not something that I’d
media has completely
then I don’t think they
want to do now
changed the way that
should play them”
anyway. I’m quite happy
my show works. I’m
where I am, and I think
embracing of that because
that they have to do
it makes it a totally
something different now as
interactive experience, and for a
well, and something quite radically
lot of the time on my show, you feel
different, which is what they’re doing.
that the audience is running the show, which
I quite like. The other thing that’s
Radio One is very firmly geared towards the
completely changed is the multi-platform
youth market these days. Do you ever feel
scenario. I got into radio because I didn’t
presenters, or pop acts, are discriminated
want anyone to see me, because I was shy.
against purely because of their age? Do
And now, pretty much anything of any note
you ever hear a great record but think,
gets filmed and put on YouTube and put on
“They’re too old. I can’t play it…”?
the website. I would say that’s only been
I know what you mean, but I think they
happening in the last 3, 4, 5 years. We used
have to play music that appeals to a
to put videos on, but now we do live
younger audience. They have to, because
streaming of things. I did an interview
that’s what the government tells them to
yesterday and that was all streamed on the
do [laughs]. I don’t think there’s age
website for people to watch. I didn’t really
discrimination at all. I would still have the
see that coming but it has to, because that’s
first play of a Madonna track. You still hear
how people consume things, and I think
U2 on Radio One, and all that stuff, so I
radio, probably, in the world we live in now,
don’t think that’s the case, but they have to
on its own, for young people –not for the
remain relevant and if somebody, like an
older generation – but for young people, I
older artist, is not relevant to a younger
think it’s a bit one dimensional. I think you
audience, then I don’t think Radio One
have to keep up with that otherwise you’re
should play them. I totally think that
not going to win.
that’s the right thing to do, because
Radio Two is amazingly
Scott Mills’ autobiography, Love You Bye,
successful and does all that
is out 6 September, published by Little,
very well.
Brown. Read a longer version of this
Do you have a partner?
interview at www.outmag.co.uk
I do, yes. He’s the manager of
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C U LT U R E C A L E N D A R : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2
DIARY DATES
S E P T E M B E R ’ S C U LT U R A L H I G H L I G H TS I N A N D A R O U N D LO N D O N
coat controversy, we’re
sure Lady Gaga’s two
huge gigs at
Twickenham Stadium
are sure to both be
sell-outs, as she brings
her Born This Way Ball
to the UK (with a
further concert in
Manchester on 11
September). www.
ladygaga.com
SUN 02 SEPT:
Following the success of last year’s event,
the wonderful Summer Rites is
returning to Shoreditch Park. The
10,000-capacity event takes place on
Sunday 2 September, and is shaping up
to be an even bigger and better event
than last year. For a start, the organisers
have arranged some great names to grace
the name stage, which will include
Adamski featuring David McAlmont,
Amanda Lepour, Cazwell, Mutya
(formerly of Sugababes - pictured right)
and the legendary Boy George, among
many others. Clubs involved include
XXL, Trannyshack, Room Service,
East Block, Ponystep and Dalston
Superstore. Expect club and bar tents, a
fun fair, plenty of food stalls, and pretty
much anyone who’s anyone on the
London gay scene. Following the
disappointment that was London Pride
this year, this is the capital’s unmissable
gay festival. Tickets are available now
from Prowler, Expectations, Circa Bar,
Kings Arms, East Bloc, Dalston
Superstore, Joiners Arms, George & Dragon and Eagle Vauxhall.
Alternatively, go straight to http://summer-rites.com for
online tickets (£25) and full details.
SUN 02 SEPT:
WED 05 SEPT:
Ben Cohen? Naked? It’s
a distinct possibility if
you get along to the
annual West End Bares
fundraiser at Café De
Paris on 2 September.
Featuring a host of West
End theatre performers,
this year’s shows (early
and late evening) use
burlesque performance
to raise money for the
Make A Difference
Trust and the Ben
Cohen Standup
Foundation. Mr Cohen
will be participating in
the fun. www.madtrust.
org.uk
If you didn’t get enough
of Emeli Sandé during
the opening and closing
ceremonies of the
Olympics, you can
enjoy a whole evening
of the Scottish singer
when she performs at
the Roundhouse in
Glasgow – as part of
the month-long iTunes
festival. www.
itunesfestival.co.uk
05-22 SEPT:
Harry Melling, who until
now has been best
known for playing
Dudley Dursley in five
of the Harry Potter
films, treads the boards
in London this month.
He’ll be taking on the
part of Christopher
Isherwood in I Am A
Camera, which will run
for three weeks at The
Vault at Southwark
Playhouse. The play is
based on Isherwood’s
memoirs, Goodbye to
Berlin, which was the
inspiration for the
musical Cabaret. www.
southwarkplayhouse.
co.uk
08-09 SEPT:
Despite her recent fur
O6 SEPT-23
DEC:
Taboo, the genrebusting and groundbreaking musical based
on the nightclub Taboo
and London club legend
Leigh Bowery, makes a
much-welcome return
to London this month.
A new production of the
show – written by Boy
George (pictured) – will
be playing for a
three-month period at
the Brixton Club House
(467 Brixton Road,
SW9). It will star The
Voice finalist Samuel
Buttery as Leigh
Bowery. It runs until 23
December. www.
brixtonclubhouse.com/
taboo
THUR 13 SEPT:
In the UK for her first
tour in over five years,
Patti Smith headlines
The Troxy in Limehouse
– promoting this year’s
Banga album. www.
pattismith.net
SAT 15 SEPT:
Grab some mates and
prepare to go
buccaneering through
05-16 SEPT:
If you’ve never seen
Rent, or are a fan
wishing to catch the
show again, a new
touring production
comes to London this
month. Starring former
Pop Idol contestant
Zoe Birkett (pictured),
catch it at Greenwich
Theatre (The Borough Hall, Greenwich Dance, SE10)
from 5-16 September. www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk
the nooks and crannies
of Soho on the Galop
Treasure Hunt! The
fastest team will win a
selection of prizes. The
event takes place from
1pm. Register in
advance at www.galop.
org.uk Tickets cost £10
in advance or £12 on
the day. Teams can
consist of between two
and six people.
21-23 SEPT:
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
touring production of
Jesus Christ Superstar
comes to the O2 Arena
for three nights, before
embarking on a UK
tour. It features Ben
Foster, winner of reality
TV show Superstar,
alongside Melanie C,
Tim Michin and Chris
Moyles. www.
jesuschristsuperstar.com
MON 24 SEPT:
Darren Hayes plays an
intimate gig at the
Indigo2 at the O2
Arena, promoting his
critically-acclaimed
album, Secret Codes
and Battleships. www.
darrenhayes.com
SAT 29 SEPT:
A recovered George
Michael comes to the
Royal Albert Hall with
his Symphonica tour
– following his
life-threatening bout of
pneumonia. www.
georgemichael.com
05 SEPT-30
NOV:
Nightwork is a
photographic
portrait exhibition
by Justin David.
The series has been
created in
collaboration with a
host of performers
and artists familiar
to many of the
London gay scene,
including David Hoyle (pictured), Nathan
Evans, Alternative Miss World winner
Fancy Chance, and writer Jonathan Kemp.
Catch it running for three months at
Jackson Lane, 269a Archway Road, N6 5AA.
www.justindavid.co.uk
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C U LT U R E C A L E N D A R : A R T S
OIL THRILLS
ACCLAIMED AU STRALIAN PAINTER ROSS WATSON HAS A NEW
EX H I B I T I ON C O MI N G TO LO N D O N THIS MONTH…
Clockwise from above:
Stephen Fry (after Vermeer,
1670), Untitled# 02-12 (after
Caravaggio, 1594) (detail),
Untitled 06/11, featuring
Lance Corporal James
Wharton, Untitled 01-10
(after Caravaggio, 1602;
featuring Francois Sagat)
One of our favourite artists, Ross
Watson, has an all-too-rare exhibition
of his work coming to London this
month. The Australian painter has
slowly built up an international fanbase
for his work, which often depicts gay
men or homoerotic images. Recent work
by Ross seeks to celebrate positive gay
role models, and this new exhibition will
include original paintings, limited edition
prints and photography – with some
famous faces included. In the spirit of
making a positive difference, the
exhibition will be helping to raise funds
for the Terrence Higgins Trust. Prices
for work will range from £500-£32,000,
with 20% of all sales going to the THT.
Ross’ previous work has been
purchased by the National Gallery of
Australia, National Portrait Gallery,
National Gallery of Victoria, and by many
private collectors, including Sir Elton
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John. Another fan is Sir Ian McKellen,
who has agreed to launch the exhibition
with an exclusive private viewing event.
“Ross Watson’s paintings are
obviously the work of a master of
technique,” says McKellen. “The
conjunction of modern naturalism and
classic works makes it hard to believe
one’s eyes. His newest work is irresistible
because it has been inspired by the
generous nature of a concerned citizen.
We admire him and wonder.”
Another fan is Stephen Fry, who
features in the exhibition in a new work.
The actor sat for Ross whilst filming in
New Zealand for The Hobbit, and the
resulting painting references Vermeer’s
‘ Mistress and Maid ’, with Fry holding his
beloved iPad.
Also featuring in the exhibition are
singer Sam Sparro, and Lance Corporal
James Wharton, an openly gay member of
the Household Cavalry. Also available to
buy will be limited-edition prints of
paintings of Jake Shears, Australian diver
Matthew Mitcham and Francois Sagat.
Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of
Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We are
hugely grateful to Ross for choosing us to
benefit from this exciting exhibition.
Some of his subjects, like Stephen Fry
and James Wharton, are themselves
supporters of Terrence Higgins Trust,
and I’m sure they will be equally pleased
that the funds raised through this project
will go to support those living with and
at risk of HIV in the UK.”
The exhibition will run from 25
September until 7 October at The
Gallery, 50 Redchurch Street, London
E2 7DP.
www.rosswatson.com
EVENTS
BRIGHTON PRIDE 2012
IF THE SUN IS SHINING, THERE WILL BE NOWHERE BET TER TO BE ON
SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER THAN BEAUTIFUL BRIGHTON…
Pride Brighton & Hove takes place on
the weekend Saturday-Sunday 1-2
September. Following the success of
last year’s event, which introduced a
paid-for ticketing system to the
Preston Park festival, this year’s event
is on a much more stable financial
footing, allowing the organisers to
plan everything well in advance – and
even to start distributing some monies
to local charity funds!
The main festivities, including the
parade and park knees-up, will take place
on the Saturday 1 September – with
associated parties taking place in clubs
and bars across Brighton over the entire
weekend.
Following the event’s hit-and-miss
financial viability over recent years, there
are new organisers: a community-interest
company put together by the owners of
Club Revenge, with James Ledward of
GScene and Paul Kemp of AEON Events
(Wild Fruit). Together, they’ve been
working hard to create something the
Brighton LGBT community can feel proud
of calling its own. You
won’t have to pay
anything to
enjoy
the
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WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK
annual parade through the streets of
Brighton, and although there’s an
admission fee to the park, Pride Brighton &
Hove will remain an non-profit making
entity. For every ticket sold, the company
will donate £1 to LGBT charitable causes in
2012, with the Pride Park and Parade
celebrations underwritten by Club
Revenge. Already this year, based on
ticket sales for this September’s event,
the organisation has made two cheque
presentations of over £5,000 each to the
Rainbow Fund.
So, what can you expect? Well, the
annual parade will begin 11am at the
Brighton Wheel. This year’s theme – which
was chosen by members of the community
– is ‘The United Colours of Pride’. Expect an
event awash with rainbow colours and
flags! Going on previous years, you can
expect approximately 100,000 people to
view the parade in all of its outrageously
colourful glory. Participants in the parade
will, as ever, be a mix of the silly and the
sensible, from over-the-top roller skaters
with outfits to die for to the Hankie Quilt
Project, who will walk in remembrance of
those affected by HIV/AIDS over the years.
The celebrations at Preston Park
start at midday and end at 8pm, and
this year, the park will be jam-packed
with 11 entertainment areas – making
it more than worth the £12.50 for an
advance ticket! There will be a funfair
and community stalls, plus several big
tents and specific stage areas.
Highlights will include an
appearance from X Factor winner
Alexandra Burke in the 3,000-capacity
Girls On Top Pop Tent. This year will
also mark the return of the Wild Fruit
Big Top, which will boast a whopping
5,000-capacity. Guest DJs will include
Fatboy Slim, the Freemasons (4pm)
and Steve Pitron (6pm).
The Legends Cabaret Tent will
feature up to 20 different cabaret
acts throughout the day, kicking off with
Lola Lasagne at 2pm and winding up
with the D.E Experience at 6.50pm –
followed by a multi-act finale at 7.20pm.
Expect Titti La Camp, Dave Lynn,
Maisie Trollette, Sandra, Rose Garden
and many, many others to hit the stage.
The Calabash Tent is aimed at the
black and ethnic minority
communities, and will feature a range
of DJ talent spinning everything from
r’n’b and soul to bhangra and dubstep.
A Bears Tent will feature DJ Hi Fi
Sean and others,
Fatboy Slim
while a Woman’s Performance Tent will
also offer a host of singers, songwriters
and comedians.
There will be a ‘Fed Centre for
Independent Living Access Tent’,
specifically aimed at anyone with
disabilities or access needs, and a ‘Lunch
Positive Community Café’ from a
Brighton-based HIV group. Add in plenty
of bars, food stalls and community groups
in the market area, and there really will
be something for everyone.
Advance tickets cost £12.50, but that
rises to £17.50 if you wait to buy on the
day at the gates.
For full details, go to the website at
www.pridebrighton.org
MUSIC: REVIEWS
ALBUMS OUT IN SEPTEMBER
THE VACCINES
COME OF AGE
(COLUMBIA)
PET SHOP BOYS
ELYSIUM (PARLOPHONE)
Even diehard fans could be
forgiven for approaching the
new Pet Shop Boys album with
some trepidation. After 30
years in the business, there’s a
fine line between ‘consistent
quality’ and ‘same-old-sameold’. It’s a problem that Neil
Tennant and Chris Lowe are
probably well aware of. In an
effort to refresh their sound,
they decided to record their
11th studio album in Los
Angeles (the first time they’ve
recorded in America), working
with producer Andrew
Dawson, who has won three
Grammys for his work with
Kanye West. They’ve even
included an arch number
entitled ‘Your Early Stuff ’: a
clever pop song on the subject
of ageing chart stars that
includes the lines “Those old
videos look pretty funny,
what’s in it for you now? Need
the money?”
Fortunately, just when you
thought that the duo were
20
incapable of shifting their
sound, Elysium demonstrates
that they still have a few tricks
up their sleeve. Yes, the change
is subtle, but this makes for a
definite shift in tempo since
2009’s Yes, which was
predominantly minimal,
Eurodisco-inspired electro.
Highlights include opener
‘Leaving’, setting a languid but
– gasp – funky tone. ‘Our love
is dead, but the dead don’t go
away, they made us what we
are, they’re with us every
day…”, sings Neil on what
sounds like a George Michael
single. ‘Invisible’ offers
blissed-out synths in the style
of Enigma.
The rest of the first half is
similarly stirring and arresting,
with the slightly ‘Suburbia’sounding ‘Face Like That’, big
ballad ‘Breathing Space’, and
the beautifully bonkers ‘Ego
Music’ – a scathing attack on
pop entities that elevate
themselves to the position of
cult deity.
The second half of the album
has a couple of fillers
(‘Memory of the Future’,
‘Everything Means
Something’), but overall,
Elysium is the PSB’s warmest,
wittiest and chilled-out album
in a long time. If Yes was aimed
at the dancefloor, this is for the
morning-after chill-out. DH
Out: 10 September
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK
Formed in west London in 2010, the
Vaccines hit the ground running. In just
over two years they’ve released ten
singles (give or take the odd double-A
side), and here drop album number two
– following up 2011’s What Did You
Expect From The Vaccines?
We’ve not seen an indie band with such
a prolific output since the heyday of The
Smiths. Although they don’t quite
match the Manchester foursome in
terms of quality or range, singer Justin
Young clearly likes to throw the
occasional Morrissey-esque witticism
into his lyrics. “I’m no teenage icon/I’m
no Frankie Avalon,” he opines on future
single ‘Teenage Icon’ – one of the
album’s highlights. If their debut
long-player drew comparisons with the
The Ramones, Jesus & Mary Chain and
The Strokes, Come Of Age finds them
honing their sound – a mixture of
jangley British indie and 50s rockabilly
swagger. It’s the Libertines (without the
heroin), with a dash of The Coral.
Standout track, ‘I Wish I Was A Girl’ has
echoes of Edwyn Collins’ ‘A Girl Like
You’, and like most of the songs here,
clocks in at less than three minutes.
Short, sweet, confident and cocksure.
Out: 3 September
ZZ TOP
LA FUTURA (AMERICAN
RECORDINGS)
Somewhat amazingly, the original
three members of ZZ Top – Billy F
Gibbons, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill
– have been together for an incredible
42 years, having formed in Houston,
Texas, back in 1969. The trio – who are
all now in their early 60s – have taken
a few breaks in that time, and La
Futura marks their first album of new
material in nine years. What can you
expect? Well, like a trusty old Harley
Davidson, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Out: 10 September
THE FEATURES
WILDERNESS
(SERPENTS AND
SNAKES)
Although they’ve yet to have made a
commercial breakthrough, Nashville’s
The Features are likely to appeal to
anyone with a fondness for The Kings
Of Leon. The four-piece have toured
with the Kings, and this album – their
third since their 2004 debut – is being
released on KoL’s own Snakes and
Serpents label.
Though the two bands clearly share
the same musical DNA and influences,
The Features are not purely a KoL
photocopy. Wilderness starts in a fairly
low-key fashion, with the Doors-ey
‘Content’ and ‘Kids’, before finally
moving up a notch with new single
‘Another One’, which offers echoes of
The Killers. “This is just another one,
aimed right at your heart, this is just
another one, bound to miss the mark,”
sings Matt Pelham about an
unsatisfying love affair, over a punchy,
nagging riff. If they’ve any sense, they’ll
follow it up by releasing ‘How It Starts’
as a future single. It’s a bluesy,
swaggering stomper with an
impossible-to-forget “Give a little bit of
your love to me” chorus. ‘Love Is’
summons up memories of Franz
Ferdinand, while ‘Rambo’ finds them
again channelling Jim Morrison.
Wilderness won’t set the world alight,
but it will certainly fill a gap until KoL
release new material.
Out: 10 September
REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON
ALBUMS
Although there’s nothing here to rival
their mid-80s anthems, La Futura is a
solid collection of bluesy garage rock,
as best exemplified by the opening trio
of ‘I Gotsta Get Paid’, ‘Chartreuse’ and
‘Consumption’. Less successful are a
number of slower ballads. Gibbons
croaks his way through lighters-in-theair ‘Over You’, comes over all country
swagger on ‘Heartache In Blue’, and
plods through the Spanish-flavoured
‘It’s Too Easy Mañana’. La Futura might
be a slightly optimistic title for a
collection of work that finds ZZ Top
recycling past glories. That said, they
do it with such commitment and gusto
that their fan base are unlikely to
complain.
FILM: REVIEWS
KILLER THRILLER
MOONSHINE LIQUOR, PROHIBITION, GUNS,
O U T L A W S A N D A S W O O N S O M E TO M H A R DY. . .
This
Month’s
DVDs...
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE
Avengers Assemble offers a
superhero alternative to some
all-too-familiar franchises. Marvel
characters Iron Man, The Incredible
Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow,
Hawkeye and Thor unite to fight the
evil Loki. Director Joss Whedon
crafted a visually-stunning thrills ‘n’
spills ride that will delight. Oh, and
hunky Chris Helmsworth reprising his
role as Thor is an added bonus…
Out: 17 September
THE HUNGER GAMES
John Hillcoat picked up widespread acclaim
for his Australian outback Western, The
Proposition, in 2005. It was scripted by Nick
Cave and starred Guy Pearce, among others.
For Lawless, Hillcoat has again teamed up
with Cave and Pearce for another period
piece about outlaws who refuse to play by the
rules. This time, the story is set in the
Depression-era Virginia, in the midst of
Prohibition. Based on real events, Shia
LeBeouf and Tom Hardy play brothers Jack
and Forrest Bondurant – country boys who
supplement their income producing
‘moonshine’ liquor for their neighbours.
Impressed by local gangster Floyd Banner
(Gary Oldman), younger brother Jack decides
that the brothers need to step up their
operation to compete. This puts them firmly
in the sights of regional special agent, Charlie
Rakes (an oily and sadistic Guy Pearce) – who
is determined to crush the local trade in
illegal booze. Meanwhile, Jack is intent on
wooing the local daughter of a preacher,
Bertha (Mia Wasikowska), while showgirlwith-a-past Maggie (Jessica Chastain) takes a shine to the gruff and monosyllabic Forrest.
Lawless is a ripping yarn, which, for the most part, manages to balance its Moonshinefuelled suspense and drama with a shot of humour and a chaser of romance. LeBeouf and
Hardy demonstrate that they’re not just good for special-effects-laden summer
blockbusters, while Pearce gives us a memorable turn as the loathsome, sexually
ambiguous Rakes – even if he occasionally strays into pantomime territory. Oldman’s
character sadly seems to disappear two-thirds of the way through the movie, and some
might find the ending a little on the anti-climatic side, but that doesn’t detract from
Lawless being one of the summer’s more enjoyable and gutsy cinematic outings. DH
Out: 7 September
Out: 3 September
FOUR MORE YEARS
Proving that Sweden’s not just good at
gritty crime thrillers, Four More Years
concerns itself with political hotshot
David Holst – tipped to become the
country’s next prime minister. A
setback leads him to meet Martin,
with whom he falls in love. Should
David leave his wife? How will a gay
romance affect his political future?
Director Tova Magnusson-Norling has
created a smart, amusing offering.
Out: 10 September
THE HOT POTATO
With a budget big enough for location
shoots in Belgium, Italy and UK,
60s-set The Hot Potato is a
light-hearted crime caper about a
London spiv (Ray Winstone) who tries
to flog some stolen uranium to
shadowy foreign powers. Despite its
cockney charm, writer/director Tim
Lewiston’s film sadly misfires at every
other level. It’s being released straight
to DVD on 10 September.
Out: 10 September
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REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON
LAWLESS
Even its creators were probably a little
surprised by just how well The Hunger
Games performed at the box office,
effortlessly recouping its $78million
production costs over its opening
weekend. Jennifer Lawrence is the
teenage gladiator Katniss – chosen to
compete in a televised fight to the
death, in a well-paced, science-fiction
thriller set in an dystopian North
America of the future.
FILM: REVIEWS
BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO
Kay and Arnold have been married for 31 years. Their children have left home and they
sleep in separate bedrooms, having not had sex in half a decade. Kay, unhappy with the
situation, signs herself and Arnold up for a week of intensive couples counselling with a
relationship expert, Dr Feld. He pushes the couple to open up about their relationship, and
embark on a range of “sexercises” to “rediscover the intimacy”.
Hope Springs stars a matronly Meryl Streep and grump Tommy Lee Jones as Kay and
Arnold, with Steve Carrell as Dr Feld. It’s directed by David Frankel, who achieved great
success with The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me, but tanked somewhat with his last
film, 2011’s The Big Year. Disappointingly, despite the talent on offer, Hope Springs is likely
to follow the latter film’s example. Genre-wise, it can’t seem to decide what it wants to be:
neither comic enough to classify as comedy, or stirring enough to constitute a bitter-sweet
drama. In its favour, it explores a subject that will no doubt strike a chord with many
long-term couples, and it’s gratifying to see Hollywood wake up to the fact that older
people like to go to the cinema too (as demonstrated by the success of such films as The
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel earlier this year). Boasting fine performances from its two
leads, it’s hard not to care about Kay and Arnold’s predicament. However, generating
empathy for them only makes it all the more frustrating that their issues are handled in
such a lighthearted manner, in a film that – although watcheable – limps towards a
sentimental and all-too-convenient denouement. DW
It’s the early 1970s, and sheltered and unworldly
sound engineer Gilderoy (Toby Jones) flees the
safety of his mother’s house in Surrey, to work on a
gory horror film in Italy. Day after tiring day, he is
buried deep in a bunker-like recording studio,
surrounded by screaming actresses, megalomaniac
filmmakers, and sound technicians hacking away at
watermelons to recreate the slicing of knives
through flesh. Unsure of what the film he’s working
on is about, and whether he’ll ever be allowed to
escape, he finds himself losing his grip on reality.
British writer/director Peter Strickland has
created an imaginative and quirky psychological
suspense story, but it is one that ultimately
disappoints. Jones gives a sympathetic
performance as the sound engineer out of his depth
and literally lost in translation. The low-budget film
is a cinephile’s dream, labouring over atmospheric
shots of recording apparatus and Munch-like
screams in the studio’s sound booth. We never
actually see the film that is being worked on,
instead gleaning an idea from snippets of dialogue,
storyboards and the endless, grotesque sound
effects that Gilderoy is called upon to produce
(‘hair being ripped from witch’s scalp’, ‘red hot
poker inserted into vagina’).
However, having set up such a novel,
claustrophobic and nightmare-ish scenario,
Strickland is unable to bring it to a satisfying
climax. Is Gilderoy going mad? Is he in hell? Will his
ordeal ever end? An abrupt ending leaves such
questions unanswered. Unfortunately, although only
90 minutes long, it’s also difficult to escape the
feeling that what could have made a great
60-minute short has been stretched well beyond its
necessary length. DW
Out: 14 September
Out: 31 August
HOPE SPRINGS
David Koepp has been the brains behind some of Hollywood’s smartest action thrillers, having scripted everything
from Jurassic Park and Mission: Impossible to Spider-Man and Panic Room. Premium Rush is the scribe’s fifth
directing gig and a departure from his brainier tension-fests. As the title suggests, Rush is less about the grey matter
and more about the intoxicating adrenaline kick.
Set entirely on the streets of New York, Rush follows bike messenger Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as he takes on
a job delivering a package for Nima (Jamie Chung). When he’s accosted by Bobby (Michael Shannon), Wilee begins to
suspect he’s carrying something very important – a suspicion that’s confirmed when Bobby turns out to be a crooked
cop who’ll stop at nothing to get his hands on Wilee’s package (so to speak).
Zipping through the Big Apple on his two-wheeler, Gordon-Levitt is a likeably unconventional action hero. It’s not
the kind of role JGL’s best known for, but the one-time Third Rock From The Sun actor has ‘star quality’ to spare, and he turns the wattage up considerably for a role that’s as
lean as the film itself.
Behind the camera, Koepp generally knows what he’s doing, too. The visuals are sleek and inventive, with tongue-in-cheek ‘hazard prediction’ sequences recalling Guy
Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes films. Taking its cue from that other NY-lover, Spider-Man, Rush looks gorgeous, and the sun-soaked streets vibrate with a fist-pumping soundtrack
that includes The Who and My Chemical Romance.
You’ll want to leave your brain at the door, though – Rush’s attempts at a city-wide conspiracy are ambitious at best and convoluted at worst. When it comes to humour
and breathless action, though, it generally delivers the goods. Fittingly, like a sugar rush, it’s fun while it lasts, but it’s pretty forgettable once it’s over. JW
Out: 14 September
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REVIEWS: DAVID HUDSON AND JOSH WINNING
PREMIUM RUSH
FILM: INTERVIEW
FLOOR FILLER
O U T I N T H E C I T Y TA L K S TO S H E L D O N L A R RY, W R I T E R A N D D I R E CTO R O F
V O G U E B A LL M U S I C A L L E AV E I T O N T H E F LO O R …
Ever get the feeling that mainstream
cinema has little more to offer than big
budget franchises, remakes, rom-coms
and CGI extravaganzas? If so, you may find
it refreshing to come across Leave It On The
Floor, from director Sheldon Larry. A hit at
this year’s London Lesbian and Gay Film
Festival, the film received a limited theatrical
release last month, and comes to DVD this
September. It’s a quirky, camp, gay-flavoured
urban musical. Beyoncé loved the idea so
much that she allowed the filmmakers to use
one of her songs, and one of her previous
songwriters helped work on the score.
The story is simple; Gay, black teen Brad is
thrown out of his LA neighbourhood home
by his bullying mother. He finds a new family
– equally full of conflicts, rivalries and
jealousies – via the colourful, underground
world of the LA ball scene. With parallels to
Alice in Wonderland, our cute hero finds
himself in a bizarre, bubble of a world where
the dance-off queens make Lady Ga Ga look
like Mary Poppins.
With and irresistible soundtrack and
eye-popping choreography by Beyoncé’s very
own dance master, Frank Gatson Jnr, it’s all
the more incredible once you realise that it
was made on the sort of budget that wouldn’t
even cover the catering on most other movie
shoots. Mixing elements of West Side Story
and Rent, and wrapping them around a story
of self-acceptance and pride, Larry has
created a unique and novel piece of celluloid.
Richard Bevan caught up with him on a
recent press trip to London…
What inspired you to make Leave It On The
Floor as a musical?
Sheldon: Twenty years ago I saw Paris is
Burning, the extraordinary documentary
about the New York ball scene, and I saw it as
a musical. It was a natural choice for this
story. And music is a way of expressing a
longing and, in this case with black love,
where these characters speak from their
hearts. It seemed the right genre for the
subject.
It’s quite a risk to pull off, isn’t it?
Yes, but I’d always wanted to do a musical,
it’s so seductive and I felt a way of engaging
with a bigger audience, where people might
not go to see a film like Paris is Burning. This
is a very interesting, small, protective world
on screen and I like moving something from
the extreme sidelines to centre stage.
Without the music and singing, this would
still be an engaging story.
Of course, it’s about family: losing a family
and finding another. And it’s the various
performances of the characters, these kids
who are the real thing who can go out there
and be these ‘superstars’ on the runway and
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Sheldon Larry
dance in amazing outfits. It’s kind of like A
Chorus Line.
Do The Right Thing meets The Birdcage?
[Laughs] ...With a bit of Boyz N The Hood.
Look, there’s something really captivating
and universal about a story where a kid has
troubles in life and goes some place, say for
instance ‘ballet class’ where they find an
extraordinary amount of support, connection
and safety. It becomes their new world.
I was surprised not to see more of what
black gay men deal with in terms of
homophobia, except for the ‘Brad-mother’
scenario. Did you consciously keep away
from that area?
Well, I call the film a ‘party film’ with a few
things on its mind. The whole black gay thing
is pretty complicated, while I think in
middle-class white worlds, in America even,
it’s been getting better and better in terms of
acceptance social policy. Church still has a
major influence and I tried to show the
conflict that these kids deal with – be they
black or Hispanic – in a funeral scene with
the parents; through an extraordinarily
emotional ping-pong conversation between
the two groups. Because that’s the root, that’s
the pedestal, everything comes from that.
I love the fact that you present Brad as a
young guy – with his own problems and
issues – who enters this twilight world that
becomes his haven. That must resonate with
so many gay people.
Yes, even though the real world of the ball
scene isn’t something known to many
African-American kids because it’s small and
peripheral. But it’s still symbolic, I think, of
the worlds that gay people can find which
allow them to be themselves: to find safety,
and celebrate themselves.
The film comes across as very authentic. I
was half expecting a 26-year-old black
director from L.A – not a white, middle-aged
Canadian. But that’s a compliment to your
filmmaking skills, isn’t it?
[Laughs] Yes, it is. What was really important
to me was to get the world right and to be
respectful of this world. What I was able to
do successfully with the kids involved –
which took three years to write the script
and a year of research –
paid off. As
demonstrated by the
fact that these kids
trusted me to do the
job.
Leave It On The Floor is
out on DVD on 10
September, released
through Peccadillo
Pictures.
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T H E AT R E : R E V I E W S A N D P R E V I E W S
GOING FOR GOLD
M A R T I N G R E E N R E V I E W S C H A R I OTS O F F I R E
Book
your
tickets
BEN BARES ALL?
PHOTO © HUGO GLENDENNING
West End Bares is a fundraiser for the
Make A Difference Trust. The
organisers invite current West End
stars and celebrities to perform – to
bare flesh or turn their hand to a
burlesque routine. Gorgeous rugby
star Ben Cohen (pictured) will be
appearing – worth the ticket price
alone!
‘On Your Marks… Get Set… Strip!’ will
take place at the Café De Paris (3
Coventry Street, W1) on Sunday 2
September 2012, at 9.30pm and a
later show at midnight. Proceeds go
to the Make A Difference Trust and
the Ben Cohen Standup Foundation.
Prices: £40/£65 midnight VIP tickets.
http://www.madtrust.org.uk
MEET NOW?
Sport as a subject for film can be
enormously successful. The Damned United
and The Wrestler have recently won both
awards and audiences. In the theatre though,
this relationship is often rocky. How many
people saw The Beautiful Game or Trafford
Tanzi? In a bold attempt to redress this
balance, Chariots of Fire, the story of two
British athletes at the 1924 Olympics, has
been staged by director Edward Hall and
playwright Mike Bartlett. Will this daring
duo win gold?
The traditional Gielgud Theatre has been
ingeniously transformed into a stadium by
designer Miriam Buether, with stand seating
on the stage and a running track encircling
the auditorium. The action begins with a
‘warm up’: the actors stretching and bending
before hurtling themselves around the house
in a display of athletic circuit training. Sitting
adjacent to the track, I could feel the breeze
created as they stormed by and was almost
able to count the hairs on their powerful legs.
This is an evening of physical and theatrical
exhilaration.
Mike Bartlett’s adaptation of the
screenplay follows the structure of the
original film, focusing on the compelling
drive behind competitors Harold
Abrahams and Eric Liddell. Coming from
different backgrounds and classes, the pair
independently rebel against establishment
interference, striving to achieve their own
goals on their own terms. This emphasis
gives the characters strength and reveals a
true heroism beyond their Olympic win.
Stage adaptations of movies are notoriously
difficult, but director Edward Hall
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manoeuvres through the frequent changes
with a kinetic dexterity, occasionally
employing a cinematic style. During a
romantic dinner, he slowly revolves the
simple candlelit set in front of us, as though
we were viewing this charming scene
through a panning camera. It’s a beautifully
quiet moment and a much-needed respite
from the athletics.
The performances are solid, with
outstanding sardonic support from Simon
Williams and Nicholas Grace, but it is the
energy of the ensemble that fuels the piece.
Choreographer Scott Ambler’s staging of
the running sequences is sublime, giving
the show a precise, well-drilled
dynamism, especially during Mark EdelHunt’s exciting hurdling performance, which
earned cheers and a well-deserved round of
applause. The competitive climax, as the final
two races commence, is also thrillingly and
inventively staged, invoking an equally
emotional response from the audience.
My only gripe is the use of the original Vangelis
synthesiser score. Although the aspirational
theme is perfect, I would have preferred to
hear a less-familiar orchestral version. The
electronic soundtrack jars too much with the
well-chosen 1920’s period music. When the
runners take up their positions and the 80’s
synths starts to woosh, it’s like watching an
episode of The Krypton Factor. It is also too
synonymous with the film, which Edward Hall,
with his miraculous staging, is clearly trying to
reinterpret.
– A gold win for sure, but it deserves to go to
the whole team.
Up4aMeet is a gay-themed play
making its debut at London’s Waterloo
East Theatre. The story concerns
three gay men who spend much time
on an online dating site, and stars
Matt Evers (Dancing On Ice), and Big
Brother housemate Benedict Garrett.
Unlucky in love, Grant (Evers) enlists
his friend Caroline (Nikki Zilli) to take
nude pictures that might enhance his
online profile. Flatmate Costas
(Garrett), a Spanish nudist, has
endless success with the site and
even his neighbour, appears to get a
fair share of the action. Can Grant
follow in their footsteps?
The show runs 3-22 September
Tickets: £14. Box office: www.
waterlooeast.co.uk or 020 7928
0060.
WILDE TIMES
The Communion of Lilies is a new
play at the Barons Court Theatre in
West Kesington. Written by Peter
Dunne, it is set in 1899 and explores
the final days of Oscar Wilde when
Wilde was living in Paris after
enduring two years of hard labour in
Reading gaol. The show is running
from 28 August until 9 September,
with tickets £14 or £12 concessions.
Barons Court Theatre, The Curtain’s
Up, West Kensington, 28A Comeragh
Rd, London W14 9HR. 020 8932 4747.
Email bookings and reservations:
[email protected]
O U T I N T H E C I T Y: A C C E S S A LL A R E A S
SEPTEMBER 2012
A
A
SCENE HIGHLIGHTS
OUR PICK OF THE BEST EVENTS IN TOWN...
SEPTEMBER 2012
OUR GUIDE
TO EVENTS
IN AND
AROUND
TOWN
ALL YOU CAN EAT
The Meat team will be celebrating the publication of
their latest tome with another fabulous launch party
at Vogue Fabrics in Dalston. Meat 8, which includes
a gorgeous photo shoot with John Brooks (who
graced our ‘My Body’ page last month), will be
launched with a party on Saturday 14 September
from 10.30pm till 3am. Taking charge of the decks
will be Eliot Nash, Fannar and Wes db. Admission
will be £5 on the door, with a free, signed copy of
the Meat ‘zine for the first 25 through the door. You
can also expect free shots of liquor from some
hunky Meat boys.
You’ll find Vogue Fabrics at 66 Stoke Newington
Road, N16 7XB. For more details about Meat, and its
stockists, go to www.meatzine.com
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON
ACCESS
ALL
AREAS
SOHO DRAG RACE
Following the success of its inaugural event last year, the Soho Drag Race will be returning to London on
Sunday 16 September, raising funds for the Albert Kennedy Trust, the charity for young homeless LGBT
people. Sponsored by the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street, it begins at 2pm, with associated
celebrations taking place between noon and 5pm. The minimum requirement is that racers either wear heels
or race three-legged with a racing buddy. Special guest and AKT patron Charlie Condou will join drag queen
Candy Slagindrag in hosting the event, and they’ll be looking to equal or better last year’s event, which
featured 25 racing drag queens and raised £2,500 for AKT! The event is free to register and the AKT just asks
of each participant to try to raise at least £50 in sponsorship. The AKT needs volunteers to help on the day
so please email [email protected]. To register to race fill out a registration form which can be found in Soho
venues and hand it in at the Admiral Duncan or register online: www.akt.org.uk/dragrace-2012
SHINK SHACK
Boogaloo Stu’s long-running Shinky Shonky
extravaganza continues to pull a party crowd every
Wednesday evening at the Ku Bar in Lisle Street.
Doors open from 10pm-3am, and there’s free entry
all night, with selected drinks at just £1.50 – a
relatively cheap night out. Pop hits and trashy tunes
mix with weekly cabaret and smutty game shows
from the larger-than-life Stu (pictured) and his
rotating line-up of guests. In September, these will
include Cherry Shakewell (5 Sept) and Vicki
Vivacious (19 Sept), while inimitable games include
Choccycockydoodah, Bonkbusters, Shitlips, You’ve
Been Zimmerframed and Penny Up The Crack! Get
along any Wednesday night from 10pm onwards.
Ku Bar, 29-30 Lisle Street London WC2.
THREE YEARS OF DICK
One of our favourite East End club nights is
quarterly gig Dick and Fanny. Aimed equally at gay
boys and girls (hence the name), the night has now
been running every three months for the past three
years! To celebrate, it’s throwing a third birthday
bash on Saturday 29 September. Given the night’s
nomadic nature, it’s once again taking over a new
venue – serving up birthday cake at the Shacklewell
Arms. With guest DJs including Rufus & Bambi
(London/Italy), David Oh, Djuna Barnes
(Copenhagen) and Africa (pictured – from Paris),
expect classic house and techno, disco, Italo and a
hint of electro. Doors: 9pm-3am. Price: £6 before
10pm/£7 after. Shacklewell Arms, 71 Shacklewell
Lane, E8 2EB. www.dickandfanny.tumblr.com
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O U T I N T H E C I T Y: A C C E S S A LL A R E A S
SEPTEMBER 2012
KU BAR
Many of London’s gay bars threw themselves into the Olympic spirit for the duration of the London
2012 games; none more so than the Ku Bar chain, which made full use of its multiple video
screens to relay the action from Stratford and other Olympic venues. Of course, Ku Bar on Lisle
Street is not widely known for being a sports lovers’ haunt… but when the likes of Tom Daley are
diving for the UK, its amazing how quickly patriotism can come to the fore!
The Games were, without doubt, a huge success for London, and even those not normally
interested in sports events found themselves drawn into the action. Besides individual events, Ku
Bar on Lisle Street threw big parties for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and we popped
along on the latter evening to enjoy some of the action. Unsurprisingly, the place was packed, with
particular interest turning to the video screens when the eagerly-anticipated appearance from
the Spice Girls took place. Oh, and can we just comment once again on those beautiful Ku bar
boys? They wouldn’t have looked out of place on an Olympics gymnastics team!
Expect more busy nights at the Ku during September, with plenty of cheap drinks offers, kicking
club nights, buff staff, drag campery and the return of the bar’s DJ Quest competition.
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PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON, WWW.CHRISJEPSON.COM
THE KU BAR ON LISLE STREET BID FARWELL TO
THE LONDON 2012 WITH A FULL SCREENING OF
THE OLYMPICS CLOSING CEREMONY…
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O U T I N T H E C I T Y: A C C E S S A LL A R E A S
SEPTEMBER 2012
WANNA BE A DJ?
CLUB NEWS
Lipsinkers
VADA VAUXHALL
The big news for the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for September is the launch of
a new, weekly series of shows from rising star Myra Dubois. “Rotherham’s
finest entertainment export since Paul Shane” aims to deliver “quality pub
entertainment” with her show, Myra Dubois Is Alive! Doors will open at
7pm, with Myra hitting the stage at 8.30pm, and joined each week by a
different special guest. Admission will be just £5. For more details, check
out interview with Myra on page 36.
Thursdays at the venue will offer a rotating line-up of entertainment,
including the return of Dr Sketchy on Thursday 20 September, with his
burlesque and comedy life drawing classes (entry £10 in advance or £15
on the door).
Fridays at the venue will offer a regular rotation of club promotions,
including Eurofest (7 Sept), Wotever World (14 Sept), the return of drag
troupe Lipsinkers (21 Sept) and VoyageVoyage (28 Sept), which will
feature Johnny Kalifornia and A Man To Pet spinning the international pop
hits.
Monday nights will offer the Big Bingo Show with Timberlina and Hey
Baylen, while Tuesdays play host to the wonderful Bar Wotever – which
offers a veritable smorgasbord of gender-bending, genre-defying
entertainment (and free admission!). The long-running Duckie takes care
of Saturday nights. The Readers Wifes spin the pop, rock and classic
sounds, while Amy Lamé introduces the weekly special guests. Guests for
September will include Sweetshop Revolution (1 Sept), Bird La Bird (8
Sept), the Mrs Mills Experience (15 Sept) and Nat Randall (22 Sept).
Finally, S.L.A.G.S/Chill-Out rules the roost each Sunday – with anthemic
dance tunes and entertainment from the D.E Experience.
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY.
www.rvt.org.uk
Following its success in previous years,
the Ku Bar DJ Quest is set to return for
a third outing this September. The
annual contest has previously
discovered DJs Doug Silva and
Athanas Sak – both of whom have
gone on to carve themselves
successful DJ careers on the London
scene. At the very least, the winner will
gain themselves a residency at the Ku
Bar itself – regular slots that Doug and
Athanas both still enjoy themselves.
To be in with a chance of winning, send a demo of your DJ’ing skills to
[email protected], along with a recent photo of yourself. A word of
warning – the music policy at Ku Bar is pop and commercial dance, so
don’t send in a perfect mix of Scandinavian trance techno and hope
that it will impress!
Heats will run on Monday evenings at Ku Bar, kicking off on Monday 3
September. Successful entrants will then get the chance to play on a
Friday night in October or November, before a grand final takes place.
Of course, if you’re not a Ku Bar regular, get along to any of the resident
weekend club nights to get an idea of the soundtrack.
Ku Bar, 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA. www.ku-bar.co.uk
ACID HOUSE!
Get ready to strike a pose… by getting
along to Dalston Superstore on Saturday
1 September for Paris’ Acid Ball! Expect
“acid thunder, big room drama and sounds
to take you deep in vogue”, at this tribute
night to the infamous voguing balls of
NYC. The night will feature a very special
guest, all the way from New York City, plus
local boys Josh Caffe and Anthony Boyne.
DJ Josh Caffe
Regular faces Hannah Holland, Dan
Beaumont and DJ Squeaky help lay down the soundtrack of acid tracks,
house and vogue classics – all with an East London twist! The night was
born out of the release party for Hannah Holland’s
club smash EP, but it’s quickly turning into a hit in
its own right, with a monthly party at Dalston
Superstore and one-off warehouse all-nighters.
Paris’ Acid Ball will run from 9pm till 4am, and
early arrival is recommended if you want to
reserve yourself some space on that sweaty little
dance floor! Admission will also free before
10pm, then £5 after – another reason to get there
early!
Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland High Street,
London, E8 2PB.
POPSTARZ – STAY INFORMED!
PHOTO © CHRIS JEPSON
Following the closure of The End on West Central Street,
the Popstarz crew have thrown a series of summer
parties at the Green Carnation on Greek Street in Soho.
The night’s have proved a huge success, with all three
floors providing plenty of plush space for the Popstarz
masses to let their hair down. As always, you can expect a
trash room – spinning cheesy chart hits from yesteryear
– and indie and rock main room, plus an r’n’b/urban room.
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Head honcho Tommy tells us that the night will continue at
the Green Carnation for just a few more weeks, before
taking up a long-term residency at a full time Friday night
home. To be kept informed of the move, and to find out
about special offers, register now with to receive the
Popstarz newsletter - http://popstarz.org/newsletter.php
Popstarz, every Friday night at the Green Carnation, 4-5
Greek Street, London W1. http://popstarz.org
O U T I N T H E C I T Y: A C C E S S A LL A R E A S
SEPTEMBER 2012
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UK BLACK PRIDE
WORDS AND PHOTOS © CHRIS JEPSON, WWW.CHRISJEPSON.COM
THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION WENT TOOK PLACE
AT MINISTRY OF SOUND FOR 2012…
On 18 August, for the seventh year in a row, UK Black Pride threw a fabulous, multi-cultural, multicoloured celebration in the heart of London. For the first time in its history, following the wet early
summer, an indoor venue – the Ministry of Sound – was chosen in anticipation of more rain.
However, come the day, the sun shone down and the outside terrace was packed with African,
Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern (and white) lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered folk
chatting, socialising and browsing the community, charity and union stalls, as well as enjoying live
poets, singers and dancers and generally having a cracking time!
UK Black Pride, like other Pride events, was an opportunity for Black LGBT people to come out and
be themselves, with solidarity from a raft of other people – including many white LGBT (and
indeed non-LGBT) people who also support every lesbian or gay person’s right to be themselves
without fear of oppression or discrimination. The event provided a great platform to remind us just
of the diversity of our community. Top acts like Omar and Donae’o joined scene favourites like
Alexis Carrington and Asifa Lahore to entertain the hundreds of people indoors and out, on what
was easily the best Pride celebration we have been to in a long time. Big Up UKBP!
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SEPTEMBER 2012
old-school. I’ve just shared a flat in Edinburgh
with a pair of Coney Island side-show
performers, Donny Vomit and Heather Holliday,
who taught me a sword swallowing routine... of
all things! And I love magicians. All of them. Even
the shit ones.
How was the Edinburgh Fringe Festival?
Emotional. I’ll be honest. The first two weeks
were marvellous; great houses, good notices and
stars pouring out of every orifice. But
then fatigue kicked in; I got bored
and homesick for London.
However, at the time of
writing, with just one
week left, I’ve bounced
back and started to
enjoy myself again.
There’s a good crowd
of the London scene
up here: Jonny Woo,
Bourgeois and
Maurice, Scottee and
Amy Lamé... so there’s
been family here for those
dark moments of selfloathing and despair.
Have you suffered any particular
tough audiences?
Not until very recently: during this year’s Fringe,
in fact. There was one night where I performed to
10 disinterested pensioners, and another where I
had a drunk Scottish woman on the front row,
which ought to be fairly self-explanatory.
Can you tell us what we can expect from your
coming Wednesday night shows at the Royal
Vauxhall Tavern?
A rough ‘n’ ready cabaret that will mix
up’n’coming talent with some of the scene’s
brightest stars. That’s one way of looking at it.
‘New Comers and Old Hacks’ is another. Take your
pick. We have performances from people you’ll
never have heard of in our open spots, including
club singers from up north and singer/
songwriters that haven’t worked since the 80s.
Then there are the performers that sell out runs
in theatres, including Jonny Woo, Scottee,
Bourgeois and Maurice and Titti La Camp. A real
mixed bag of mid-week entertainment for a fiver.
How do you like to spend your time when you’re
not on stage? Is there a ‘Mr Dubois’?
There is not. I would like there to be, and I’m sorry
if that makes me look weak or vulnerable. But
the cold, hard facts are that it’s hard to find a
partner when you live and work in show
business. It’s a cliché, but I’m married to my work.
When I’m not on stage I’m usually researching,
rehearsing, prop-buying, costume hunting, crying
and/or masturbating. So no, there is no Mr
DuBois.
Finally, as a proud daughter of Rotherham –
what’s the best reason you can give us to visit
the town?
It’s cheaper to drink up there. That’s all I’ve got.
“The cold,
hard facts are
that it’s hard to find
a partner when you
live and work in
show business”
MYRA WAY
FRESH FROM A STINT AT THE EDINBURGH
FRINGE FESTIVAL, MYRA DUBOIS HAS A SERIES
OF NIGHTS COMING UP AT THE ROYAL VAUXHALL
TAVERN. OUT IN THE CITY CAUGHT UP WITH HER…
Hi, Myra. For anyone unfamiliar with you, can
you tell us a bit about your background?
Background? In what respect? Professionally?
My class? My racial background? In short. I’m a
cabaret performer that arrived here via bar work
and amateur dramatics, and I’m white.
When did you first start performing?
I first started performing in London in 2008 when
I managed to bag myself a ten-minute spot at
Madame Jo Jo’s. That was my first venture into
‘cabaret’ as we know it today. I have, however,
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been performing in amateur dramatics since I
was 13. If anyone’s unfamiliar with the world of
‘Am-Dram’ let me give a bit of context. It’s a lot like
the West End... but shit!
Which other performers do you admire?
I’d like to say that I admire all performers for
having the courage to get up there and do it, but
sadly I do not. The comedian David Mills is a
scream. Gentleman juggler Mat Ricardo is, like
me, a real Variety lover so keep an eye out for his
‘London Varieties’ nights: forward thinking
Catch Myra Dubois is Alive! Every Wednesday at the
Royal Vauxhall Tavern from 5 September through to
28 November. Weekly guests will include Jonny Woo
(5 September), Bourgeois and Maurice (12
September), David Mills (19 September) and Titti La
Camp (26 September), among others.
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37
A
O U T I N T H E C I T Y: A C C E S S A LL A R E A S
SEPTEMBER 2012
STICKY
WEB
RICHARD TONKS
NEEDS A GEEK (CHIC
OR OTHERWISE) TO
UNTANGLE HIS ONLINE
CONUNDRUM...
The life of a single, available freelancer in the
capital’s current climate is not one to be envied.
Blatant schmoozing online (followed usually by a
curt response) is a fine art, but in the quest for
further work I’ve noted how very important first
impressions count – not just in person, but also
out there in social cyberspace. I’m ‘live’ on so
many different sites now: profiles pop up
automatically that I completely forgot existed.
I’ve no idea how my online persona socially
relates to the real me any more. Despite living
spitting distance from a large scene catering for
a range of tastes on any given night of the week,
my cyber presence notches more hits than my
physical phone calls or text messages or real live
interactions with an actual person – and has
done for a long time now.
My compulsion to get some sort of basic
membership with new, exciting sites scares the
hell out of me. It also possibly makes me a slut,
but I’m far less worried about that. Just how
much of me is advertised out there festering in
the sweaty-palmed entrails of strangers’
smartphone inboxes? The mind boggles!
My main motivation for joining so many sites was
that they often enrich my ideas for this column,
and my general interest in gay trends and queer
subculture. I’m just concerned that what started
as a resource for inspiration has spiralled into
addiction and is now shaping the way I behave
rather than complementing it. And isn’t that the
turning point? When social media platforms
redefine themselves into what I would call,
‘antisocial media’? Scarier still is how now my
professional life as a freelancer is now
increasingly relying on similar tactics. The
annoyance of trawling through all of the
notifications to ensure I don’t miss a hot
commission, and pursuing oversubscribed
opportunities, is bit like trying to get a free coffee
and cinema date with Gaydar’s most highlyrated profile. It may happen very, very
occasionally, and in a parallel universe. I find
myself flirting with senior gatekeepers to
stimulating work, and employing business-like
tactics to close down ‘I’m just not that into you’
social dates. I’ve been accused of using too much
detail on Facebook and yet have been overlooked
for not giving enough in professional contexts.
And then I spot well-paid jobs for people who
manage media for a living. Are they Social Media
38
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“ I ’ V E N O I D E A W H AT H O W M Y O N L I N E
P E R S O N A S O C I A LLY R E L AT E S TO T H E
R E A L M E A N Y M O R E .”
Managers or – in effect – therapists for people
like me who are going out of our online
cyberminds? I actually had a minor panic attack
earlier this week and nearly set up a blog, but
blogging about my lack of blog was so stressful
that I had to log off for a few hours and have a
tantrum. An offline tantrum, for once.
What I need is a super geek who is able to
create some sort of online gay social and
professional portal where I can pool my
thoughts, inspirations and availability, and it
will translate these into suitable messages and
posts to the right contacts across the plethora
of websites with which I’m now forever
entangled. Prompts for more or less detail or
new content will be all I need. Employmentrelated websites, such as LinkedIn and Elance,
have modelled themselves on more social
platforms, yet remain formal employeeintroduction sites designed to raise your
professional capital. They invite you to upload a
photo portrait to ‘enhance’ your online profile and
‘complete’ your offer to employers. It’s irritating
enough that we’re encouraged to assess whether
a date shows potential ‘shaggability’ on the basis
of one photograph (and who we subsequently
delete and block from further contact). I feel that
emphasis on a photograph on any employmentrelated site isn’t just irritating - it’s a real step
back… and that worries me.
GETTING
ON THE
GUEST LIST
The Summer Rites crew
return to Shoreditch
Park for what has
become billed as ‘Queer
London at its Best’. This
year’s al fresco mash-up
includs Boy George on
the main stage, and the
likes of Jonny Woo, DJ
Larry Tee and the
Trannyshack crew.
Dalston Superstore, East
Bloc and others will
ensure alternative tastes
are covered. With an
r’n’b tent and XXL laying
down large house tunes:
a late-summer cocktail
of London’s tribes.
Summer Rites is at
Shoreditch Park, N1
(nearest tube is Old
Street) on Sunday 2
September. Tickets are
available from usual
outlets/online from £25.
www.summer-rites.com
Hands-in-the-air action
continues with Carry On
Beyond at Area. It kicks
off at Covert from 10pm
Saturday 1 September
and moves on to Area
for three rooms of
action till midday
Sunday. Both clubs are
at Albert Embankment,
Vauxhall.
Expect Beyond DJ
talent, pyrotechnics and
six-pack laden go-go
dancers. Carry On
Beyond offers a free
entry to Covert with a
Brighton Pride
wristband before 1am.
Tickets available from
www.orangenation.
co.uk
PROPERTY
NEW FROM NEWLON
Looking for a home in north London? Leading new homes provider
Newlon Housing Trust has just unveiled plans for its new QN7
development in north London…
Above and below: Computer-generated images of the planned QN7 development
on Queensland Road, N7 - as seen from three different perspectives
QN7 at Queensland Road lies in the heart
of north London - just a stone’s throw
from the Emirates Stadium.
Newlon Housing Trust is building 173
new one- and two-bedroom apartments for
shared ownership, and the first phase of
apartments at QN7 is due to be released for
off-plan sale in October and November 2012.
Close to the excellent transport links of
Holloway Road and Drayton Park stations,
this development offers a unique opportunity
to buy an apartment in this vibrant, up-andcoming area on a part-buy, part-rent basis.
In terms of location, the development is
ideally placed. There are numerous green
spaces and shopping and leisure facilities
40
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK
nearby, while an array of restaurants that
cater for every taste is just a short walk away.
QN7 is also ideally located for visiting some
of north London’s most popular areas. Both
Islington’s Upper Street and Camden are just
a short bus ride away, and to the north of
QN7 are the open spaces of Highgate and
Hampstead. The apartments are near both
the Sobell Leisure Centre and gym, and the
Highbury Fields Swimming Pool – making
them perfect for fitness and gym-lovers.
primarily in eight boroughs in north and east
London. Its new, large development, Hale
Village in Tottenham Hale, has proved very
popular with first-time buyers, and QN7 looks
set to repeat that success. Shared ownership is
a scheme specifically designed to help
first-time buyers on to the property ladder. For
the QN7 development, it will give you the
chance to purchase as little as a 35% share in
the property and pay the rest in the form of
subsidised rent.
Newlon Housing Trust is a ‘not for
profit’ industrial and provident society and
a charitable housing association. It owns or
manages more than 7,000 affordable homes,
If you are interested in the QN7 development, please
visit http://www.qn7.co.uk to register an interest and
obtain details about this desirable development as
soon as they become available.
HOMES
01
02
04
03
We Want
T H I S M O N T H ’ S H OT
PRODUCTS FOR THE HOME ...
42
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK
01. PENDANT LIGHT
Designer Tom Raffield is
described as a “conjurer of
wood”. He excels in furniture
and lampshades that are
predominantly crafted by the
technique of steam bending
– an eco-friendly method of
bending wood into intricate
curls and spirals. Typical of
his work is his trademark
Pendant Light Shade – which
comes in either ash or oak,
and sizes of 45cm or 55cm.
02. PLATE-FORME COFFEE
TABLE
This plate-forme coffee table
from design company Tolix
has elicited a love/hate
response in the Out In The
City office. Measuring 60cm
x 40cm, the compact vessel
is made from painted steel,
available in grey or bright
blue, and – we think – best
juxtaposed against a
minimal, chromatic or
Mondrian-inspired interior.
RRP £220 (45 cm model)
www.fab.com
RRP £338
http://www.madeindesign.co.uk
03 BURLESQUE PLATES
Add a touch of ‘bump and
grind’ to your kitchen with
these delightful ‘Burlesque’
plates from design company
Dupenny. The studio
specialises in wallpaper,
homeware and fine ceramics
– with a cheeky twist! Plates
can be complemented with
some burlesque mugs, ‘50s
housewives’ tea towels and
‘1920s glamour’ cushions.
RRP £30 each
www.dupenny.com
HOMES
05
06
08
07
04. WARREN EVANS
CABINETS
Warren Evans produces a
range of bedroom furniture.
We particularly like the
bedside cabinets. Two
models are available –
‘Shaker’ and ‘Contemporary’,
featuring one, two or three
drawers, or pot cupboard
varieties. They have 11
different finishes. Pictured
here is a ‘Contemporary’
cabinet in oak satin finish.
05. FRANCIS BACON
CUSHIONS
To commemorate the 20th
anniversary of Francis
Bacon’s death, his estate has
created a selection of
products based on his
paintings, quotations and
images from his iconic Reece
Mews studio: postcards,cups,
posters, trays, beach towels,
belts, mugs and cushions,
(shown: ‘Seated Woman’ and
‘Untitled (Fury) c.1943-5’).
06. JAMES SHAW
SIDEBOARD
Heals has unveiled its
autumn/winter 2012
additions. Trends include
‘Woodland’ and ‘Heritage’:
products in wood and
traditional-style patterns and
fabrics. The range of
furniture from James Shaw is
well worth a look. This
Aga-like cabinet is available
in natural oak or green
(shown here).
07. RAMP BLACK BULB
BOWL
This ‘Black Bulb Bowl’ is by
designers RAMP (Roop & Al
Make Pots), one of around 50
craft companies exhibiting
their wares at Ceramics In
The City – a free fair coming
to Shoreditch’s Geffrye
Museum (136 Kingsland
Road, Shoreditch, London E2
8EA), from 21-23 September.
Prices will range from £10 to
several hundred pounds.
08. SONYA WINNER RUG
Another new addition at
Heals is a selection of rugs
by Sonya Winner.
Hampstead-based Winner
specialises in Matisse-like,
graphic rugs, created after
meticulous research into the
knotting and tufting of wool...
perfect for lending a focal
point to a room. We love this
‘Bubbles’ multi-rug, which
would add contemporary
piz-zazz to any floor.
RRP £135
www.warrenevans.com
RRP £28.60 each
www.culturelabel.com
RRP £1,795
www.heals.co.uk
RRP £350
www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
RRP £1,995
www.heals.co.uk
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK
43
Loudoun Road • London #originmove
The Move DPS G3 OITC.indd 2
31/08/2012 12:38
to a fantastic location!
The Move is an exciting new development that
is incredibly well connected - just a mile away
from Lords Cricket Ground, Regents Park and
Abbey Road, not to mention Regents Canal and
Primrose Hill - what are you waiting for?
Make your move.
1 and 2 bedroom apartments
for Shared Ownership
(Part Buy, Part Rent)
Prices from £77,500*
(Monthly cost approx: £968)
Call 0800 068 8990 or visit
www.origin-move.co.uk
*Price based on a 25% share of a one bed apartment with a full market value of £310,000. Minimum income
required: £30,021. Minimum joint income: £37,150. Please note: You must be registered and approved at
www.firststeps.co.uk. You must be buying this as your first or only home, terms & conditions apply. Whilst these
particulars are prepared with all due care and convenience of intending purchasers, the information detailed
herein is a preliminary guide only. The organisation employs a policy of continuous improvement and reserves the
right to alter or amend the specification as necessary and without prior notice.
The Move DPS G3 OITC.indd 3
31/08/2012 12:38
NEWS
IN THE NEWS...
Gay stories from the UK and farther afield...
GAY BARRISTER FOUND
NOT GUILTY ON PORN
CHARGES
46
The Sugar Dandies
SAME-SEX DANCE
CHAMPIONSHIP FOR BLACKPOOL
The home of UK ballroom
dancing, Blackpool, is to host
what is believed to be the
town’s first Same- Sex Open
international dance
competition. Jointly organised
by recent Britain’s Got Talent
semi-finalists the Sugar Dandies
with Marketing Blackpool, it will
be held at the Winter Gardens
on Sat 27 October.
“We are very excited about
launching this spectacular
competition in Blackpool,” said
RACING TO GLORY
Continuing to grow in stature each year, the now
annual METRO Drag Race returned to Greenwich
on Saturday 18 August – drawing hundreds of
spectators. Now in its seventh year, the race –
which acts as a fundraiser for local LGBT
community organisation METRO Centre – was
started by the Mayor of the Royal Borough of
Greenwich Councillor David Grant who gave a
speech in support of METRO and highlighted the
charity’s work to combat homophobic bullying in
schools. The race was hosted for the first time this
year by The Prince of Greenwich pub, and was won
by Miss Philippa Flop. Live outdoor cabaret was
provided by Dave Lynn, Lady LaRue, Miss Helyn
Bed and singer Phil Lawrence.
Hugh Wright, METRO Head of Fundraising
said, “We are so grateful to all of the participants,
businesses and spectators for helping to make this
year’s Metro Drag Race a huge success. We are
especially thankful to the residents of Royal Hill
and surrounding streets who kindly allowed the
event to go ahead on their doorsteps – with many
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK
PHOTO © TERIWARKE.COM
A gay barrister, and former aide to
London mayor Boris Johnson, has
been found not guilty of possessing
extreme pornography in what has
been seen as a landmark case over
the what porn can be described as
“extreme”.
Simon Walsh, 50, a former magistrate
and alderman in the City of London,
was arrested in April 2011 after the
police found six email attachments
that had been sent to him. The
attachments were not found on either
his home or work computers but on a
Hotmail server account that he had
previously set up. Walsh admitted to
the court he had used the account to
meet and keep in contact with sexual
partners. He admitted having an
interest in BDSM sexual practices, but
added, “I do not believe that when I
stood for public office I gave up my
right to a private sexual life.”
Following his arrest, Walsh was
sacked from his position on the
London Fire Authority and was unable
to continue work as a barrister,
despite – as heard by the court –
previously being a man of
“impeccable character”.
Images that concerned the police
were of consensual sex acts between
adults and included anal fisting.
Walsh faced five charges under
section 63 of the Criminal Justice and
Immigration Act 2008. It stipulates
images are extreme if they are
“grossly offensive, disgusting or
otherwise of an obscene character”
and if they “portray, in an explicit and
realistic way, any act which results in,
or is likely to result in serious injury
to a person’s anus, breasts or
genitals”. After a week of evidence, a
jury at Kingston Crown Court took 90
minutes to unanimously find Walsh
not guilty on all counts. Walsh’s
solicitor, Myles Jackman, told The
Guardian newspaper the case raised,
“grave questions about the right of
the state to intrude on the privacy of
the individual with unfounded
obscenity prosecutions.”
Giving evidence, Walsh said he had
never hurt anyone whilst engaging in
sexual bondage practices, adding, “I
know the limits and I respect them.” .
After his acquittal, he thanked the
jury for their “common sense” verdict.
Bradley Stauffer-Kruse of the
Sugar Dandies. “Blackpool is
the mecca for dancers, so all
our competitors are really
looking forward to this. We
love Blackpool, so we can’t
think of a better place to be. It
has the best structures for
ballroom dance and it means
so much to us to be welcomed
in the world-renowned
Winter Gardens.”
Competitors already
registered for the event
include both the current
Female Same-Sex European
Ballroom (standard)
Champions and the Male
Same-Sex European Ballroom
(standard) Champions along
with dancers from Austria,
Greece, Germany, Hungary,
the Netherlands and
throughout the UK. The
international judging panel
will include Strictly Come
Dancing winner Matthew
Cutler.
For details of Same-Sex
Open dance competition,
including accommodation and
spectator tickets, visit www.
visitblackpool.com or www.
samesexopen.co.uk
coming out to cheer on the runners and enjoy the
entertainment. Sponsorship money is still coming
in but we estimate the event will raise £2.5k to
support our work providing sexual health and HIV,
mental health, community and youth services.”
To find out more about METRO Centre, go to
its official website at www.metrocentreonline.org
“In every instance of sexual rights falling under attack, you’ll find legislation
forced into place by people who practice discrimination disguised as religious
freedom. Their goal is to dehumanize everyone’s sexuality and reduce us to
using sex for the sole purpose of perpetuating our species. To that end,
they will criminalise your entire sex life.”
Playboy founder Hugh Hefner speaks out in defence of gay rights and in support of gay marriage.
AND
FINALLY...
WORLD
NEWS
© DAVE J HOGAN/GETTY IMAGES
EZRA MILLER “QUEER”
RADIO ONE APPOINTS GAY HOST FOR
BREAKFAST SHOW
Radio One presenter Nick Grimshaw, who has recently been announced as the
new host of the station’s breakfast show, has confirmed in an interview with The
Guardian that he is gay. However, he explained that part of the reason that his
personal life had, until now, remained private was because he’d never been in a
long-term relationship. The 28-year-old will be replacing Chris Moyles, who has
previously been criticised for his negative use of the word ‘gay’. Nick Grimshaw is
due to take over the breakfast show from 24 September.
EUROPEAN DIVERSITY AWARDS
Following the success of last year’s inaugural
European Diversity Awards (EDA), the shortlist for
the second annual EDA has recently been
announced. Organisers Square Peg Media
(publishers of Out In The City and g3 magazines),
say that the Awards, which count Google and RBS
Jane Hill
as their headline sponsors, received just under 500
entries from almost every country in Europe – a significant increase on
entries from last year. A panel of judges have whittled down the entires to a
shortlist of between six and eight for each category. The winners will be
announced at a prestigious ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London on 20
September 2012, presented by BBC newsreader Jane Hill ( pictured ).
http://www.europeandiversityawards.com
RUSSIA
Moscow’s highest court has
upheld a ban on gay pride
marches taking place in the city
for the next 100 years. The ban
was implemented after gay rights
campaigner Nikolay Alexeyev
applied to the city council to stage
a parade on 23 August every year
for the next 100 years. The
request was denied. Mr Alexeyev
appealed against the decision by
taking the case to court. However,
Moscow city government argues
that the gay parade would risk
causing public disorder and that
most Muscovites do not support
such an event. Mr Alexeyev now
says he plans to take the case to
the European Court in Strasbourg.
UNITED STATES
Less than a year after the
long-awaited repeal of the United
State’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
policy – which prohibited openly
gay and lesbian people from
serving in the US military, a
woman has become the first
openly lesbian Brigadier General.
Tammy Smith’s promotion took
place in a ceremony at Arlington
National Cemetery on 10 August.
Smith’s wife, Tracey Hepner, was
part of the official party, and –
alongside Smith’s father, Jack
– participated in the traditional
pinning ceremony – helping affix
the relevant star insignia to the
shoulder of Smith’s uniform.
“I am just so pleased that my
family could participate in this
ceremony today,” Smith said of her
historic promotion.
Actor Ezra Miller
(pictured here at last
year’s BFI Film
Festival), who played
the part of Kevin
opposite Tilda
Swinton in 2011’s
acclaimed film, We Need To Talk
About Kevin, has come out as
“queer”. In an interview with US
magazine Out, to discusss new film
Perks Of Being A Wallflower, the
19-year-old said “I’m queer. I have a
lot of really wonderful friends who are
of very different sexes and genders. I
am very much in love with no one in
particular. I’ve been trying to figure
out relationships, you know? I don’t
know if it’s responsible for kids of my
age to be aggressively pursuing
monogamous binds, ‘cause I don’t
think we’re ready for them.”
MIKA: I’M
GAY
In an interview
with Instinct
magazine pop
singer Mika, who
enjoyed several
top five singles
when he broke on
to the UK music scene in 2007, has
revealed that he is gay. Until now, the
singer – who spent much of his
childhood in the Middle East – had said
that he resisted applying labels to his
sexuality, although had said that he
didn’t mind being called bisexual.
GAY COMPETITORS
SCORE MEDALS
In the London 2012 Olympics, from a
total number of 12,606 competitors, a
total of 23 revealed themselves to be
gay or lesbian, either before or during
the games – such as South African
archer Karen Hultzer who came out to
reporters during her London visit.
However, of those out gay competitors
(20 of whom were women and three
of whom were men), 43% went on to
win a medal – either competing solo
or as part of a team. These included
the UK’s Carl Hester, who won gold in
the equestrian team dressage.
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47
CAREER
MAN ON TOP
Deputy Head Teacher, and ‘Inclusion for All’ campaigner in schools,
Shaun Dellenty tells us about his work...
Q
ARE YOU COMPLETELY OUT AT WORK?
Q
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT
YOUR WORK?
Q
WHAT DO YOU FIND HARD ABOUT IT?
I was never ‘in’ at work, but I never
felt the need to be a ‘gay teacher’.
However, when I saw the positive impact
our Inspirational Role Model programme
was having upon pupils and saw the
homophobic bullying data, I felt
compelled to be open and authentic. Using
the bullying data as a stimulus, I clarified
to pupils that I am gay and that I was
homophobically bullied at school. The
reaction from pupils and parents was
fantastic. Now, any pupil who is
questioning can see an openly gay Deputy
Head Teacher getting on and doing his job
successfully alongside other role models
from a range of diverse backgrounds,
which I think is important.
Q
WHAT DO YOU DO AND WHAT DOES IT
INVOLVE?
I am the Deputy Head Teacher of Alfred
Salter Primary School in Southwark, a
large successful school known for its
inclusive ethos. We have 100 staff and 441
pupils. My role involves day-to-day
operations, leading assemblies, meeting
parents and managing behaviour. I ensure
on-going strategic development, aiming to
keep standards improving and ensuring
pupils can reach their full potential in a
safe, nurturing environment. I have some
teaching responsibilities and I lead staff
development. I’m also a school governor
and I work as a consultant to support
other schools locally and nationally.
In 2009, I became our Equalities Coordinator. My first job was to see what
bullying was occurring: 75% of our pupils
were hearing homophobic language daily.
As no staff member had received training
on how to represent or support LGBT
pupils and parents, I developed a childcentred, ‘whole school’ strategy: ‘Inclusion
For All’, which reduced incidents of
48
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homophobic bullying to virtually zero. I
took this work to other schools in London
and I now offer training for school staff on
a termly basis at my school. I have spoken
at various Stonewall and Anti-Bullying
Events. This summer, I became the first
openly gay school leader to speak at the
National College For School Leadership
Conference about homophobic bullying. I
was recently nominated in the European
Diversity and Homo Hero Awards. I blog
for the Huffington Post and my work is
documented on my website www.
shaundellenty.com
Q
HOW DID YOU COME TO ENTER THE
PROFESSION?
I wanted to be an actor! My dad suggested
I would be a ‘natural’ at teaching and,
hopefully, he was right! I did act
professionally for five years after
obtaining my Equity card, following my
completion of a four year B’Ed degree.
There is a definite cross-over between the
professions – I once presented to a
packed-out SECC in Glasgow, which was a
great grounding for assemblies!
The privilege of working with the brilliant
little people that come through our doors
every day; not a day goes by when they
don’t lift you up and amaze you with their
skills, ideas and personalities. Our
commitment to inclusion means I see
children included in mainstream
classrooms, in many cases with severely
complex physical and/or special needs.
The way these children respond to
carefully planned activities and the
support they are given by their peers is a
joy to behold. I try never to make
assumptions about our pupils; they are
capable of so much more than we think. I
work with a wonderful team who will
always move with me, provided I can
justify what I am doing, rather than
putting barriers up for the sake of it.
Being in education one has to be
resilient. At times, it seems the whole
world is against you! The use of education
as a political football means that a daily
visit to the BBC Education Page can be
very depressing. Every time a new social
problem comes along schools seem to take
the blame for it. Add OFSTED into the
mix and it can be very hard for schools
and school leaders to keep focused on
what they actually do well.
Q
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO
ANYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED IN
BECOMING A TEACHER?
Firstly, please like children! Secondly it is
vital that you spend time in a school
talking to a teacher about what the job
really entails, especially the paperwork,
planning and assessment side of things.
Thirdly, don’t do it just for the anticipated
summer holidays!
LEGAL
WHO WILL INHERIT YOUR
DIGITAL ASSETS?
Have you ever wondered what would happen to your online profiles after your
death? According to Amy Clague of EAD Solicitors, more and more people are
addressing this question in their Wills…
Death has always been a fact of life…
but dying in the digital age is something
new. We are at a unique point in human
history where we are building up our
digital legacies every minute of every day.
As the shift to digital continues, the digital
assets left behind will become a greater
part of your overall legacy. Whether
you’ve thought about it or not, you can be
reasonably sure that your data is going to
outlive you. The question is: what can you
do to protect your digital footprint should
anything happen to you?
Before the days of cloud computing
and social networking, much of a person’s
legacy would be found within their homes.
This largely differs now because of the
digital revolution that has occurred over
the past decade. The valuable things we
leave for the next generation are our
mementos: photo albums, homemade
videos, letters, stories, music collections…
all are things by which people will
remember you. They are our heirlooms.
These days, people tend not to keep
things on paper. Instead, their most
intimate thoughts and important data
are likely to be online – in emails, social
media posts, contacts, music libraries
and personal blogs. Stored in portals
such as Vimeo, Facebook, Grindr, Gaydar
and Wordpress, our digital assets are
literally being added to every minute of
every day. The reality of our myriad online
identities is that without a password, web
domains, online accounts, and even entire
computers can remain forever locked – or
even undiscovered.
Because of this, it is estimated that 11%
of Britons now include, or plan to include,
their internet passwords in their Wills.
They are taking the necessary legal
precautions required to protect their
digital souls – leaving one less level of
bureaucracy for loved ones to deal with
once they are dead.
From a legal perspective,
incorporating assets – both digital and
none digital – into a Will is a simple way
of safeguarding a life’s worth of material,
data and possessions. While
acknowledging the end of your days is a
thought that few relish, making a Will is
the only thing you can really do to prepare
for it in any practical sense. As many as
60% of people never bother to make a
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Will. If you choose to defy the 60%, it’s
also imperative to remember to keep your
Will under review and up-to-date, so that
it reflects any changes in circumstances.
Take for example entering into a civil
partnership: this automatically revokes
any existing Will you may have already
prepared (unless stated otherwise). In
most cases, when in a civil partnership
your partner would receive most of your
estate even without a Will. However, this
might not be the whole of the estate, as
the laws on intestacy will apply. If you are
separated or in the process of ending a
civil partnership, then there is no change
in relation to inheritance, unless you
amend your Will.
As outdated as it might seem,
unmarried couples are not protected by
law in the same way that married
couples or civil partners are. Commonlaw marriage does not exist. Sadly, by the
time people realise this, it is often too late
– the relationship breaks down or a
partner dies and it is only then they realise
they do not have any legal protection.
Wills and Probate Solicitor Amy
Clague believes that for people who have
children, drawing up a Will is absolutely
necessary when considering their future.
Should anything happen to the parent, a
legal guardian must be in place. She
explains, “If you have children from a
previous relationship before you entered
into your civil partnership, it is important
to give some consideration as to how they
are to be provided for, whether this be by
way of a gift or a share in the residue of
your estate, alongside your partner.”
With regards to your digital assets,
the best course of action is to assign an
heir. Once you have appointed one it is
important to make him/her aware of your
digital content – without this they won’t
be able to find it. The next step is to allow
them to take possession of your content
through entrusting them with the
passwords, as stated within your Will,
alongside what you wish to be done with
the information. File formats may change
over time and without a willing heir your
content might get locked in an obsolete
format.
The good news is with the right
planning and preparation you can avoid
these problems. Make a Will today
digitally or by picking up the telephone
and discussing your assets – whether
tangible or not – with a qualified solicitor.
For more information and advice please contact
Amy Clague Or Sean McCann at EAD Solicitors
on 0151 735 1000 or visit www.facebook.com/
EADSolicitors or tweet us @MerseysideLaw
PARENTING
TOO MANY COOKS?
Olivia Piercy, solicitor at Dawson Cornwell, explores some
of the legal implications of co-parenting…
If you are considering starting a
family, there are compelling reasons
to co-parent with friends as opposed
to adoption or surrogacy as coparenting is generally quicker,
cheaper and far less complicated,
legally. Co-parenting can also lend the
added benefits of additional emotional
and financial support. Such
arrangements can be made between
single people, or between two couples,
or indeed any combination of
individuals who choose to start a family
together.
Theoretically, it could be argued
the more loving parents/carers that
a child has, the better. However,
such arrangements are complicated
and, in the absence of careful
planning, can easily fracture. From the
outset, the parents are essentially
orchestrating a situation akin to
that of separated or divorced
parents. The difference for
co-parenting friends of course is
that the arrangements are made
against a backdrop of optimism and
bonhomie, as opposed to bitterness and
broken hearts.
The experts agree that it is
infinitely more sensible to co-parent
with friends than with someone you
found on an internet site.
If you are planning to have a baby
with a person or with people you know,
or if you are entering into a civil
partnership in which one of you already
has children, it is prudent to draw up a
co-parenting agreement first. That
agreement may later be relied upon as
evidencing intention if things go wrong.
However, it is also a useful guide to
return to when you hit the inevitable
bumps in the road.
There are a couple of things to bear
in mind:
Co-parenting agreements are not legally
enforceable and as such, they require a
great deal of trust. In the UK currently,
the law dictates that a child can only
have two legal parents. The identity of
the legal parents will be determined by
the relationship status of the birth
mother and the way in which the child
is conceived. It is important to think
carefully about who the legal parents
should be, as in the event that your
agreement unravels, the financial
implications can be onerous.
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For example, if you donate sperm
to a friend through an informal
arrangement, even with a clear
understanding that you bear no
financial responsibility for the child,
there is nothing to stop her from
applying to the Child Support Agency
for maintenance at a later time. If you
enter a marriage or civil partnership
with someone who already has a child/
children, you can later be ordered to
pay maintenance and capital for the
child/children throughout the child’s
minority (below the age of 18) by virtue
of that child being a child of the family.
Finances aside, there are many
issues to consider before taking the
plunge. Firstly, who will have parental
responsibility (‘PR’)? Anyone with PR
has a right to be involved in all major
decisions regarding the child’s health,
religion, education, etc. It is a helpful
way of establishing someone’s parental
role in your child’s life. However, the
decision needs to be taken carefully, as
if someone has PR, you cannot simply
override their objections to, say, your
choice of nursery school. Indeed, in the
absence of agreement, such issues may
necessarily be resolved at court. Therefore,
whilst it’s good to make everyone feel
included, it is possible for there to be ‘too
many cooks’ trying to agree decisions.
If the birth mother is in a civil
partnership at the time of birth, her partner
will automatically have PR. If it’s agreed that
other parties should acquire PR, this can be
achieved by applying to court for a shared
residence order, after the birth.
Although co-parenting agreements are
not technically enforceable, the court will
treat them as evidencing intention. They
will hold significantly more weight if
created following independent legal advice.
Ultimately, the court will make orders for
contact, residence and other specific issues,
based on a child’s best interests, rather than
the contents of a co-parenting agreement.
Such agreements do, however, provide
invaluable guidance in helping parents to
overcome disputes among themselves.
For further information please contact AnneMarie Hutchinson OBE, Partner and Head of
International Children Department on amh@
dawsoncornwell.com or 020 7242 2556.
PARENTING
ARRESTED FOR SPERM
DONATION?
Did you know gay men are barred from being sperm donors in the US?
Thankfully, reports Toyin Jegede of the London Sperm Bank, there are no
such bans in the UK…
In a recent episode of the
American TV comedy, Drop
Dead Diva, a man who is
fighting for visitation
rights of his biological
child finds his chances of
caring for his son
drastically reduced based
on the fact that he is a gay
man who donated sperm.
The episode highlights the
ban that was implemented in
the US in 2005 against gay
and bisexual sperm donors
– a ban based on the belief
that these groups of men are
more “at risk” in regards to
sexually-transmitted
diseases.
In the UK, such laws do
not exist. At the London
Sperm Bank, we recruit men
from a wide range of
different backgrounds. In
fact, we welcome gay men
with open arms not least
because our sister clinic, The
London Women’s Clinic, is
the centre of choice for
same-sex recipients of sperm
donation.
Whether you are
currently in a relationship or
single we would like to hear
from you. Our donors come
in all shapes and sizes.
Regardless of your education,
social background, race,
religion or interests, we want
you to get in touch, so long as
you are aged 18-41 years old,
are fit and healthy and free
from hereditary or infectious
disease.
The first step involves
filling out an enquiry form
on our website – www.
londonspermbank.com – or
calling one of our
consultants on 020 7563
4305 to book an initial
screening.
During this visit you will
get the chance to speak to a
member of the team who will
answer any questions that
you might have. We will also
get you to complete a medical
questionnaire and to produce
a sperm sample for us to
check its suitability for
freezing.
If you are considered fit
and healthy, with great
sperm quality after
freezing, you are already
half way through the
screening process. We will
then ask you to come in for a
blood and urine test – which
screens for sexuallytransmitted disease. If these
tests come back clear, you are
asked to see our doctor for a
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medical assessment and then
you are free to start making
donations.
Even if for any reason you
are not accepted on to our
programme, our meticulous
screening process means that
at the very least you will find
out more about yourself.
We will also be
exhibiting at the
Alternative Parenting
Show, which takes place on
Saturday 15 September 2012
at the Grand Connaught
Rooms in Covent Garden.
Feel free to come along and
make an application on the
day. It will be a great way for
you to meet some of our staff,
and to find out everything
you need to know about
becoming a donor.
www.londonspermbank.com
PARENTING
WHO’S THE DADDY?
The Alternative Parenting Show returns to London on Saturday 15 September…
Are you thinking about becoming a
father? Or are you intrigued by the idea
of parenthood but are not sure about your
options?
As any parent will testify, having a child
will change your life, but achieving
parenthood is rarely straightforward for
lesbian and gay people.
However, gay parenthood is becoming
more common, with many gay people
now hoping – and realistically planning
– to have children at some stage in
their lives.
In answer to this growing demand,
the Alternative Parenting Show
(formerly known as the Alternative
Family Show), will be returning to
London this month. The event takes
place at the Grand Connaught Rooms
in Covent Garden on Saturday 15
September, between the hours of 9.30pm
and 5.30pm.
This one-stop shop is aimed at the
LGBT community, single men and
women, and heterosexual couples who
perhaps have difficulty conceiving:
basically, any one who may have to plan a
little harder in order to achieve their goal
of becoming a parent.
The show will feature a wide range
of exhibitors, demonstrating the
various options available. There will
be over 50 exhibitors, including
London Women’s Clinic
(headline sponsor), Dawson
Cornwell (legal partner)
and the British
Surrogacy Centre
(surrogacy partner).
Other
organisations and
companies
present on the
day will include
the British
Association of
Adoption and
Fostering,
Human
Fertilisation
and
Embryology
Authority,
family law
specialists
A City Law
Firm, New
York
Fertility
Services,
Coram
Chambers
and Adoption
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Plus, among many others.
The show is run by event and
publishing specialist, Square Peg Media,
publishers of Out In The City and g3
magazines.
Attendees can learn how to
navigate through the alternative
parenting minefield, including advice on
surrogacy, fertility, co-parenting,
adoption and associated legal
information.
However, as informative as the
exhibition stalls will be, they’re only part
of the day. Attendees will also be able to
sign up to attend a range of seminars,
where they can hear from parenthood,
fertility and surrogacy experts – and have
any questions answered. Seminars taking
place during the day will include:
n “Using surrogacy to achieve your baby
dreams”
n “Identifying a surrogate and egg donor”
n “Fertility treatment using donor sperm”
n “International Surrogacy: Passports
and Parenting”
n “Identifying a surrogate and egg
donor.”
n “Domestic and International Adoption,
Co-parenting and other means of
acquiring Parental Responsibility”
n “What are my options? – How age,
lifestyle, funding and the law will affect
your fertility treatment choices.”
The event is
partnered by
the UK’s
largest LGB
charity,
Stonewall. The
charity’s
representatives
will be on hand
to discuss ways
to help
eradicate
bullying for children of same-sex parents
and how to ensure your child’s education
gets off to the best start. They have
invited Coronation Street ’s Charlie
Condou (pictured) to give his experiences
of being a gay parent, and to talk about
eradicating homophobia in schools.
Tickets for the show cost £8, which allows
general access to the exhibitors’ market place.
Admission to individual seminars costs a
further £3 per seminar, and early booking is
advisable as some seminars get booked up in
advance. For all booking enquiries, and further
details, check out the official website at
www.alternativeparenting.co.uk
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK
57
TRAVEL
BERLIN FOR BEGINNERS
Writer Christopher Isherwood famously bid ‘goodbye to
Berlin’... but David Hudson is only just saying ‘hello’!
“You must go to Berlin!” is a refrain I’ve
heard so many times over the years. The
German capital is one of those European
destinations that’s considered a ‘must-visit’
for any self-respecting gay traveller,
whether they are seeking night life,
culture, or a mixture of the two. It also
boasts its own uniquely schizophrenic
nature, having been so rigorously and
brutally divided into East and West
divisions – separated by the infamous
Berlin Wall after the end of the World War
II. Despite having ticked off pretty much
all those other ‘must-visit’ destinations
that Europe has to offer – I have to admit
that Berlin has, until now, eluded me.
Despite reading my Christopher Isherwood
short stories (upon which the film Cabaret
was based), and hearing apocryphal tales
from friends about the Berlin gay scene, I’d
somehow managed to always miss out on
opportunities to visit the city – even
though it’s so easy to reach from the UK.
I travelled with Easyjet – just one of the
budget carriers operating flights to and
from the city’s Schoenefeld airport.
Having attained such a mythical status in
my mind, particularly when the Wall was
torn down in 1989 – my first impressions of
Berlin took me by surprise. Given the
might of the German economy, I was
expecting the capital city to be another
super-metropolis to rival London, Paris
and New York in size. However, with a
population of 3.5 million, it’s smaller than I
first imagined. This isn’t to it – or its
country’s – detriment. Indeed, one could
argue that the more equal spread of
population, and industry, across Germany’s
major seven cities (Berlin, Hamburg,
Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and
Düsseldorf ), contributes greatly to that
country’s famed economic stability.
Unlike some of its European peers, Berlin
can also, at first, seem a little plain in
appearance. The city was heavily bombed
during the World War II, so much of the
architecture is post-1945. Many of the
buildings, particularly on the East Berlin
side, offer a Cold War austerity – built at a
time when the city was crippled by
post-WWII debts. That said, Berlin has
undergone a process of growth, expansion
and re-invention since the reunification of
East and West in 1989, including some
stunning architectural developments. At
the same time, the city has lovingly
protected those few historic monuments
that managed to escape the bombers’ raids.
Berlin is split into 12 districts. For
first-time visitors, most of the famous
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sights are in the central Mitte area. The
city’s most domineering landmark is
undoubtedly The Fernsehturm: the
soaring TV Tower in Alexanderpltaz – a
Cold War remnant from the German
Democratic Republic. Today, you can travel
to the top to enjoy a sky-high restaurant or
just enjoy stunning views of the city.
Nearby, lies the gothic Berlin Cathedral,
which is just a stone’s throw from
‘Museum Island’ – a central reservation
which houses some of the city’s finest
museums and institutions. Do check out
the New (Neues) Museum, which features
an architecturally awe-inspiring interior
from British architect David Chipperfield.
Also worth a visit are the Altes (Old)
Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie (Old
National Gallery), both of which are full of
18th and 19th century art and antiques. If
you’re planning on touring the various
hotels and sights, consider investing in a
Berlin Welcome card, which will grant
you free travel on public transport, plus
discounts at most major tourist sights and
institutions.
After the TV Tower, Berlin’s other most
famous landmark is the Brandenburg
Gate. It’s a visually ornate, sandstone,
neo-classicist structure that signifies the
split between East and West – of interest
for its historical symbolism more than
anything else.
Far more impressive, and just a five-minute
walk away, is the Reichstag – the German
seat of Parliament. This beautiful building
is now topped by a contemporary glass
dome, which contains a spiral walkway.
The interior is unmissable, but be warned
– for security reasons, you must register in
advance if you wish to visit. It’s easy to do
so, but make sure you click on to the
official website at www.
bundestag.de at least 72
hours in advance of your visit
(and take along your passport
for proof of ID). It really is
worth the time and trouble to
register your
interest in
advance.
Continue your
tour behind the
Reichstag building by
taking a wander around the
new Government quarter, much
of which lies along the river Spree.
From here, make your way back to
Potsdamer Platz – a gleaming
square surrounded by an
assortment of contemporary
buildings that have risen since 1995. The
Sony Centre is a shopping and
entertainment centre covered by an
impressive, umbrella-like canopy. Nearby,
you can view sections of the former Berlin
Wall – or make a visit to Checkpoint
Charlie – immortalised by so many spy
tales, and guarded over in the past by
opposing factions of East and West. After
the Reichstag, the other Berlin sight that
you must visit is the Holocaust Memorial.
Erected in 2004, and designed by Peter
Eisenman, this unique, sombre and
expansive memorial consists of 2,711
tomb-like blocks of concrete. The mazelike slabs are staggered, varying from a
mere few inches in height up to 15 feet.
visitors are encouraged to wander the
blocks in contemplation – reflecting upon
the Holocaust: in the words of Eisenman,
“a supposedly ordered system that has lost
touch with human reason.”
Berlin’s gay district is largely based in
Schöneberg. There is no lack of
accommodation options, with a range of
gay guesthouses and hotels. I stayed at
Tom’s Hotel (see box-out). For those a
tighter budget, the same team run the
nearby Tom’s Hostel. Both establishments
are in the heart of the gay scene – perfect
for those who are looking for late-night
action. Guests are also welcome to enjoy a
decent-sized breakfast at the nearby More
restaurant and café – a riot of red walls
and floor-to-ceiling crystal bead
lampshades.
Schöneberg is a fairly quiet district during
the day. There are some impressive fetish
boutiques (check out the amazing
Butcherei Lindinger and MrB stores),
and a handful of cafés for
afternoon coffee – such as the
delightful Viennese-inspired
Sisi. However, scene wise,
Berlin doesn’t begin to shake
its tush until long after
sundown. Bars begin to fill
after 10pm, and you
shouldn’t even think about
setting foot inside a club
before 12.30am. Earlybird
destinations include
Blond Bar, which does
a good trade in coffee
and pastries during the
day, before the beer begins
to flow. Beneath Tom’s Hotel
is Tom’s bar and club, which,
as its name suggests, is aimed
at a Tom Of Finland-style
crowd. Connection is a
Pictured:
1. Berlin’s Museum Island
2. The Reichstag
3. The Old (Alte) National Gallery
4. Connections nightclub
5. The Brandenburg Gate
6. A decorated remnant of the
Berlin Wall
2
4
IMAGES: 1 © BPK/DOM PUBLISHERS, 2 & 5 © VISITBERLIN/SCHOLVIEN, 3 © STAATLICHE MUSEEN ZU BERLIN. FOTO: MAXIMILIAN MEISSE, 4 & 6 © DAVID HUDSON
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3
5
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59
TRAVEL
TRAVEL NEWS
Miami’s White Party
Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial
basement disco and ground
floor bar – the latter being one
of the few bars that manages to
pull in punters throughout the
day and evening. The basement
disco is one of gay Berlin’s
busiest and clubs – appealing
as much to lovers of pumping
dance sounds as to those who
are attracted to the maze-like
cruising area. Hafen, next door
to Tom’s, is another busy
establishment, with drinkers
(and smokers) spilling out on
to the pavement during
warmer months. Lovers of
bears and blokes should head
straight to Woof Bar, the city’s
most famous bear hangout.
This is just a small selection
of the bars on offer. You are
spoilt for choice, and the city
also hosts several international
gatherings – such as Folsom
Europe (8 September 2012),
Hustlaball Berlin (19 October
2012) and the Gay Skin
Weekend (1-4 November
2012) – any of which will
amply demonstrate that when
it comes to decadence, Berlin
still sets the European
standard.
TOM’S HOTEL
Situated in the heart of Berlin’s gay
district, Tom’s Hotel manages to
be both basic and simple yet
stylish and welcoming. It offers a
small number of contemporarystyled rooms, decked out in a
colour palette of white and orange;
each feature stylish, impressive
bathrooms, with ours boasting a
shower room that could easily have
hosted its own party!
All those staying at Tom’s Hotel
receive a Hotel Pass, which grants
discounts at local gay businesses,
bars and clubs. Rooms start from
€79 for singles rooms, and €99 for
doubles.
For full details and bookings, go to
www.toms-hotel.de
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LINKS
n www.visitberlin.de
- Up-to-date information for
visitors, including
information on the Berlin
Welcome Card.
n www.pinkpillow-berlin.de
– Soon-to-launch LGBT
travel information website
for Berlin, carrying details of
specifically gay-friendly
hotels/business/attractions.
n www.gay-berlin.net
– Up-to-date information on
the Berlin gay scene.
n www.bundestag.de - Book
a visit to the Reichstag dome,
and find out about the
history of the Bundestag.
n www.butcherie.com
– Amazing fetish store
selling an eye-watering
selection of designer ware
and classic fetish clothing.
n www.just-men-berlin.de
– Just Men Berlin – Stylish,
gay-run men’s massage spa
and gallery.
n Isherwood’s
Neighbourhood Walking Tour
– A great way to discover the
area of Schöneberg.For
bookings and information,
email brendan@10777tours.
com , or text
+4915125220342.
n MIAMI: 28TH WHITE
PARTY WEEK
As the disappointing London
summer inevitably slides into
autumn, many of you may be
dreaming of hitting sunnier
climes. The good news is that
you don’t have to wait until
next year. Florida offers
sunshine and balmy, tropical
weather for most of the year,
and the annual Miami White
Party Week, which takes place
in late November, is one of the
very best times to visit.
This annual event, which
dates back to the mid 80s, will
take place from 19-26
November. It attracts literally
thousands of guys, and is one
of North America’s biggest
circuit events – also drawing
in visitors from South
America, Europe and beyond.
The festival is packed with
events and huge parties. It
kicks off with the White
Martini cocktail bash at Mova
Lounge on Wednesday 21
November, and is followed by
signature dance event White
Journey on Thursday 22
November. Then, the really big
parties take place on the
weekend proper – with Urge:
White Dreams on Friday 23
November and the actual
White Party™ at Soho Studios
on Saturday 24 November.
This will feature very special
guest DJs Danny Verde and DJ
Paolo. The party has been
themed ‘Reset’, and will act as
the main party of the
weekend, and it will also act
as a major HIV/AIDS charity
fundraiser (raising money for
Care Resource). Thousands
are expected to join the
celebration, dancing from
10pm till 5am. Alternatively,
purchase a VIP ticket and
arrive early at 9pm to enjoy a
premier fashion catwalk event
and cocktail party.
That not enough for you? It will
be followed on Sunday 25
November by the Muscle
Beach Party, which delivers
exactly what it promises –
hundred of muscled beauties
who will be only too happy to
show off their tan lines.
The official host hotel the this
year’s White Party is the
Albion Hotel (with rooms
starting at $149 a night), but if
you find that’s already booked
up, there is no lack of
alternative hotel
accommodation in Florida’s
renowned party city.
Oh, and in case you’re
wondering, it’s called the
‘White Party’ it’s because all
party-goers are encouraged to
wear white – although
‘topless’ appears to be the
more common clothing option
at most of the events!
For full details, and to reserve
your tickets, check out the
comprehensive website at
http://whiteparty.org
DJ Danny
Verde
HEALTH / WELLBEING / ADVICE / FITNESS / NUTRITION / GYM
You and your partner may disagree
on certain aspects of the process,
but the important part is that you
feel like a team going into this
process. Being in a couple should
sometimes feel like being one part of
an Olympic rowing partnership in
which both partners understand that
they have their role to play in finding
a rhythm to move the boat smoothly
and efficiently. At the moment it feels
as though you have not been asked to
be onboard. Or perhaps you have
been waiting for him to ask you?
In addition to the two of you working
on being a better team, you need to
think about the role of the mother. It
is important that she and your
partner understand that his primary
relationship is with you. You do not
want her trying to climb onboard your
rowing boat that is designed for two.
It may have room for a child seat but
no more than that. So, in addition to
you and your partner working as a
team, the three of you need to work
as a family. And this is where it often
gets difficult. Once the three of you
have talked this through, there are
legal issues to consider. It is always a
good idea to get some legal advice on
your situationl.
RUNNING
PA G E 6 4
Help me Out!
Soren Stauffer-Kruse offers words
of advice and guidance…
MAYBE BABY?
B O DY TA L K
PA G E 6 6
Dear Out,
My partner has told me he and a female
friend have discussed the idea of having a
child together. She’s in her 30s and has not
settled down with anyone. I’ve been with my
boyfriend three years, and we are also both
in our mid-30s. Though I respect his desire
to have a child, I can’t say I have strong
feelings either way about being a parent,
but I’m scared if I say I’m not interested, I
might lose him. They’ve discussed him
being the sperm donor, and having custody
of the child 1-2 days of the week after he or
she is a few months old, but I think even
having occasional custody of a child is a
huge responsibility. My partner says that
this is something he really wants to do, and
can’t understand my lack of enthusiasm. I
am also wary that such arrangements
between friends might be fraught with
complications. I’m normally one to try and
reach some sort of compromise, but in this
instance, I can’t see any middle ground. Any
advice on how to handle this situation, and
my own feelings, would be appreciated.
Ben
Dear Ben,
I agree with you that having a child is
a huge responsibility and a lot of
work. It’s good that you are thinking
about this now before you find
yourself in the middle of a very
stressful situation that may prove
detrimental to your relationship, as
well as the child’s wellbeing. In order
for this to work you need to be able to
be a good working team.
I think that your feelings have more to
do with having been excluded from
the process than you not wanting to
have a child. It sounds as though you
could go either way on that idea.
Perhaps you would feel more
enthusiastic if your partner had
included you in these conversations.
The two of you should be talking in
great detail before you go any further.
Tell him that you want to have some
time to think it through together. You
should contact gay people who are
already parents, to find out more
about their experience and help
clarify your own feelings on the issue.
Many couples struggle to be a good
team. It is just not something you
think about when you first meet.
Having been together for three years
you could see this as an opportunity
to develop this relationship and help
transform it into a better working
partnership – in order to meet the
challenges that many relationships
will inevitably face over the years.
Being in a relationship is great, but it
can feel like hard work as well. And
just like being in an Olympic rowing
boat, it shouldn’t ultimately be about
winning a medal but for the pure love
of it.
GET IN TOUCH
Soren Stauffer-Kruse is a
Chartered Counselling Psychologist
and an expert in gay relationship and
sexual issues. If you have a problem
and are seeking advice, email
[email protected]
We regret that Soren cannot enter
into personal correspondence.
WWW.OUTMAG.CO.UK
63
HEALTH
POUND THE STREETS!
EVER CONSIDERED TAKING UP RUNNING? WHY NOT PICK A LONDON-BASED RACE
A I M E D AT G AY R UN N ER S? TH ER E ARE THREE EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND THEY’RE AIMED AT COMPETITORS OF ALL ABILITIES...
Getting ready for the
Big Gay 10K in London
The recent Olympic Games may have spurred you on to explore the idea of doing
some exercise, or taking up a sport, so have you ever considered running?
Unlike some sports, running can cost nothing – you just need to find somewhere
suitable to run! It can be enjoyed either as a lone pursuit or in a more social setting. If you
happen to live in London, there are also plenty of opportunities to take part in running
events, including sponsored runs and races. There are also dedicated LGBT running
groups, such as the well-established Front Runners (www.londonfrontrunners.org). Its
members range from recreational joggers to competitive road racers and marathon
runners – and beginners are welcome. It organises regular runs four times a week, in
Regent’s Park, Hyde Park and along the Southbank. Runs ranges from two to six miles, and
normally attract between 20-40 runners.
Running seems to becoming more and more popular with gay men. It provides a great
cardiovascular workout, and is a great alternative to the gym. Outdoor running is a very
different experience to running on a treadmill, and certainly offers plenty more sights.
Naturally, as with any exercise, it helps to have a goal in mind when training, so why not
enter one of the following gay sports events taking place over the coming weeks?
Gardens, behind the famed Royal Vauxhall
Tavern in London. It takes place on Sunday 30
September, and is open to all – whether you
wish to walk, run or just show support.
“Taking in the beautiful sights of London, this
sponsored 10k walk is open to the fit and the
not-so-fit alike – don’t worry if you can’t walk,
run or mince the 10k, you can wait for the
‘runners’ to finish the route with a glass of fizz/
gin/cup of tea and some cake provided by some
lovely lesbians instead!” says a spokesperson.
The event is being organised by LGBT charities
PACE and London Friend and they hope that it
will be a camp, fun and inclusive day out for
“queers, families, big mincers and their
friends”. On a more serious note, it is also a
fantastic opportunity to join others raising
money and awareness for gay and trans
charities across the UK, so sign up to take
part, email all your friends and get them
donating.
The walk/run event will be followed by the Big
Gay Village Fete with stalls hosted by LGBT
charities and organisations and an
entertainment stage, hosted by the Royal
Vauxhall Tavern, will provide fabulous
performances throughout the afternoon. The Big
Gay Village Fete is aiming to “out-gay anything
you have seen before – the only place in the UK
where you’ll find a drag tarot reader, fabulous
lesbian comedy and a bearded bingo caller!”
For full details, go to www.biggay10k.co.uk
THE 5K RED RUN
FRONTRUNNERS PRIDE RUN
The annual Frontrunners Pride Run is a ten
kilometre race taking place in Victoria Park in
Hackney on Saturday 15 September. The race
will be start at 11am. Demonstrating the
inclusivity of the event, wheelchair racers will
start at 10.55am.
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The event has grown in size and stature
each year, and in 2011, over 800 people took
part – so if you decide to enter, you’ll be in
good company! This year’s event will also be
officially started by Sir Ian McKellen, so expect
a bit of celebrity glamour as well.
There is a fee to take part: £15 for runners
affiliated with the club, £17 for non-affiliated
runners. Proceeds will this year be donated to
the Albert Kennedy Trust – the charity that helps
homeless LGBT youth.
For details, and register, go to www.pride10k.org
BIG GAY 10K
The Big Gay 10k is a brand new, camptastic
LGBT fundraising event dancing itself on to the
calendar for 2012. It’s a 10k sponsored walk/fun
run starting and finishing in Vauxhall Pleasure
Another fundraising initiative, the 5K Red Run
(pictured above) is a World AIDS Day event
that’s been organised by the team at Positive
East.
Launched in 2010, the 5K Red Run will return for
its third outing on Sunday 25 November in east
London’s Victoria Park. The event raises funds
specifically for Positive East’s HIV testing service
in east London, and for the first time, runners
will have the option of taking on either a 5k or
10k route. The event is free to enter, though
they ask that all runners pledge to raise at
least £50. For taking part, runners will
receive a limited-edition T-shirt, chip timing,
and refreshments.
For full details, and to register, go to http://
www.5kredrun.co.uk/
TRAVEL
HEALTH
TRAVEL
PROPERTY
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65
FITNESS
My body
David Richardson
Proprietor, SWEAT
Personal Training
did you start working
QWhen
out?
I’d struggled with my weight for as
long as I could remember,
beginning with puppy fat. Then
puberty came, and, while I shot
upwards like a magic beanstalk to
6’4”, my waistline also increased
and my weight continued to yo-yo
into my late teens. Then I moved to
London, which changed
everything. Londoners set a higher
aesthetic standard, the gay scene
being less forgiving. After fumbling
around the gym solo for a few
weeks, I hired a personal trainer.
As my body improved, my interest
in fitness grew.
GET A BODY
LIKE DAVID
1. Avoid only eating
2-3 carb-heavy meals
a day, instead aiming
for six light meals per
day at two-three hour
intervals. “Think of
your body as a
furnace. You need to
keep it burning by
fuelling it regularly,
but overload it and
you’ll extinguish the
fire,” says David.
2. Keep changing
your workout – to
work different
muscles and to avoid
your body getting too
used to the same
exercises.
3. Don’t forget to
exercise your legs –
you’ll see the results
across all your major
muscle groups!
YOUR TYPICAL GYM
QWHAT’S
ROUTINE?
I work out five days a week,
training a different muscle group
each day. I cycle everywhere.
Cycling in London, with its traffic
lights, forces you to ride in
intervals, like you would do in a
spinning class. I change my
workout every four weeks, to avoid
boredom and ensure my muscles
are always challenged as the body
adapts to perform any task
repeatedly given to it. I incorporate
essential ‘compound’ moves into
every programme (exercises that
involve using more than one joint
and muscle group): squats,
push-ups, dead lifts, chest press
and pull ups. Simply changing the
weight, repetitions or tempo of
each move is enough to keep
fooling your body.
SORT OF WEIGHTS DO
QWHAT
YOU LIFT NOW?
Overly heavy weights never will be
the main focus of my workout. It’s
more important to maintain the
correct form and technique. This
yields better results, and is essential
for health and safety. Don’t feel
intimidated by seasoned gym-goers,
or feel you have to lift a weight too
heavy for you. It won’t earn you
respect, you won’t grow – you’ll risk
an embarrassing and painful injury.
Q
DO YOU TAKE NUTRITIONAL
SUPPLEMENTS?
No amount of supplementation can
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compare to a balanced diet. Diet
should form 70% of your focus
with training coming in at just
30%. You can’t out-train a bad diet.
I eat a high protein, low-carb diet.
Every meal includes a generous
portion of meat or fish with
vegetables on the side, and 3-4
litres of water daily. I add healthy
fats (virgin olive oil) to meals. A
common misconception is that
eating fat makes you fat. It doesn’t.
The big exception here is manmade hydrogenated and trans-fats
found in cakes, biscuits and ready
meals. I use chillies in cooking.
The capsicum content fires up your
metabolism. I take omega-3 fish
oil, a vitamin B complex, alphalipoic acid and a multi-vitamin. I
drink 2-3 protein shakes per day to
ensure I’m getting the 2g protein
per kg of bodyweight required for
my muscles to heal and grow.
Q DO YOU
HAVE ANY PERSONAL
WORKOUT ADVICE OR TIPS?
Balance upper and lower body
training. Legs are your biggest
muscle group. Train them hard and
see your metabolism spike, your
body fat fall off and upper body
grow in double time. Squats,
lunges, dead lifts and calf raises are
your friends. Beginners should
invest in a personal trainer or at
least take advantage of the free
induction offered by most gym
chains. Learn all of the basic
compound moves. Keep your
training simple but intense.
For personal training with David or one
of the SWEAT team, visit sweat-london.
com, email [email protected] or ‘like’
facebook.com/sweatptlondon