EILE Magazine – Nov/Dec 2019 (Vol. 6, Issue 06)

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Magazine V 6 Issue 06 - Nov/Dec 2019

Nadia Vaeh

Letitia VanSant Arielle Silver Shaley Howard Inside:

Travel | Film | Fashion |Health | News

EILE Magazine | Who’s Who

Contributors

M. Butler M. Butler is a writer and editor, with a keen interest in human and civil rights, and has also studied philosophy and psychology Scott De Buitléir Scott is founder and Editor-at-Large of EILE Magazine. He is also an author and poet from Dublin, but is now based in Cork Shaley Howard Shaley is a writer/blogger (adventuresofabutchdogwalker.com) and dog-lover, who is currently based in Portland, Oregon Lisa Reynolds Originally from Co. Meath, Lisa is a fashion industry student, now living in Bray, Co Wicklow, with a great interest in media and celebrity Brian Rochford Brian has studied health, exercise, and nutrition, with a special interest in controlling pain in rheumatism and arthritis Brian Rochford also writes our fashion column at EILE Frances Winston Frances Winston is EILE’s resident film buff, a writer, and has contributed to many other publications, such as The Irish Independent and Irish Tatler

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EILE Magazine | Welcome

Highlights Nov/December 2019 Travel - Pps. 34,36 Our travel section features the Carnival in Tenerife, and Game of Thrones Tours in Antrim

The Pink Elephant? - P. 24 Shaley Howard writes about The Pink Elephant in the Room - substance abuse in the LGBTQ community

Health - P. 28 Brian Rochford tells us how to cope with the effects of overindulgence during the holiday season

Music - Pps. 6,10, and 14 Our musical guests this month are Nadia Vaeh, Arielle Silver, and Letitia VanSant, all different - all perfect

Men’s Fashion - P. 18 Brian Rochford tells us what’s trending for 2020

…plus film reviews, news, travel, and much more!

Volume 6, Issue 06 Editor-at-Large: Scott De Buitléir Editor: MKB Contributors: M. Butler, Scott De Buitléir, Shaley Howard, MKB, Lisa Reynolds, Brian Rochford, Frances Winston Photographers: Anabel DFlux, David Rams & Charlene Catral, Shervin Lainez/Jocelyn Mackenzie NB: All images in this publication are either under Creative Commons licence, or used with permission. Image credits, where necessary, are printed on the corresponding page(s) or photo(s). Any queries can be made to hello@eile.ie Special Thanks to MKB for all her hard work, dedication and support.

Web: http://eile.ie Contact: hello@eile.ie Twitter: @EILEMagazine Facebook: http://fb.com/eilemagazine Note: All opinions expressed in this issue are the writers’ own.

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EILE Magazine | Editor’s Letter

Contents 6-

Nadia Vaeh

10 -

Arielle Silver

14 -

Letitia VanSant

18 -

Men’s Fashion

22 -

Retro Review Noel

24 -

Pink Elephant ?

28 -

Health -

30 -

Retro Album Review

34 -

Travel Tenerife

36 -

Travel GoT Tours

40 -

Frances on Film

46 -

Winter FY Review

50 -

US - Merlefest

54 -

DFCC Film Awards

plus A selection of LGBT news from around the world

EILE November/ December 2019 Welcome to the November/ December 2019 issue of EILE Magazine Well, it’s nearly all over for 2019!

We hope you had a good year, and we can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store!

Meanwhile, just sit back, relax, and read our Nov-Dec edition of EILE Magazine. We have music features on Nadia Vaeh, Arielle Silver and Letitia VanSant, Frances Winston reviews some great movies and gigs for us, and Brian Rochford writes on men’s fashion, and health.

Lisa Reynolds looks back at an LGBT short, and Shaley Howard writes about alcohol and drug abuse in the LGBTQ community - The Pink Elephant in the Room. We have Travel features on the Carnival in Tenerife, Game of Thrones Tours in Antrim, and a feature on the US music festival, Merlefest.

So give yourself some downtime, have a look at EILE Magazine’s Nov/Dec 2019 issue, and Happy New Year from All at EILE Magazine!

Scott De Buitléir Founder / Editor-at-Large

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See our film reviews

by Frances Winston

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Nadia Vaeh This issue, we feature Nadia Vaeh, who has recently released a new emotive, personally-inspired single, Holidazed & Confused. A native of Atlanta, born of an American mother and a Lebanese father, Nadia Vaeh found her way into music through modelling, and joining a local Atlanta circus, where she also sang for her supper.

Alt-pop artist, Nadia, has taken a non-traditional approach to holiday season music, and the track features a strong energetic beat, with solid pop vocals and layered harmonies.

The song’s dark-wave sound is filled with haunting echoes that contrast emotive lyrics and a reflective outlook.

Based around the idea of missing someone who might not be around anymore, Nadia Vaeh wanted to create a song that expresses the confused feelings of grief during the holiday season. Produced by Dion Shaw and Tyler Spratt, and mixed and mastered by Tyler Spratt and Paris Minzer, Holidazed & Confused is one of Vaeh’s most personal singles yet.

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“It can be a really difficult time of year.

Amidst the stillness, it can bring reminders that some of those loved ones are no longer with us in the physical realm,” she explains.

but is also a platform to help others heal, and make waves on social matters. Having written in several genres, her fascination lies with pop, because, as she put it:

“I wrote this song with my mom in mind.

She was a little light force year-round, and brought joy to so many. Her presence is always missed, but especially around this time of year when I have more time to reminisce.”

“You can tell a story and create even more movement with that story through catchy lyrics and melodies”. Well said! And we at EILE wish Nadia a bright and happy future in the music industry - she deserves it!

Her mother, a poet who shared her love of words and ultimately inspired Vaeh to be a lyricist, passed away when Vaeh was seventeen years old. This shift in her life led to a path of self-destruction, where she strayed away from music.

She dismantled her high-school band, and strayed from songwriting and singing for years, other than the occasional karaoke.

After this tragic loss, she states that she went down a path of self-sabotage and destruction, and used relationships and partying to ignore her pain. When she finally decided to begin again with artistry, she was a shell of a person, and looking to anyone and anything for answers to deal with her heartbreak.

“I made a lot of missteps when I first began my career and had to learn a lot of things the hard way.”

With endless resilience, she eventually returned to artistry, and grew into a performer, creating her own voice and sound.

With influences such as Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, and FKA Twigs, her sound is a unique collection of pop and personal experience, combining elements of pop with R&B, Reggae, and Middle Eastern music.

Nadia has written well over 100 songs, born from the things she’s experienced. To her, songwriting is not only personally healing,

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-MKB

You can find out more about Nadia at: https://www.facebook.com/ nadiavaeh/ https://www.instagram.com/ nadiavaeh/ https://www.nadiavaeh.com/ Holidazed & Confused is now available to stream and download on digital music platforms worldwide.

Be on the lookout for new music as 2020 approaches, and stay up to date on Vaeh’s journey by visiting NadiaVaeh.com. You can also follow her on all social media platforms @ NadiaVaeh.

Photos: David Rams and Charlene Catral

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Arielle Silver EILE Magazine catches up with singersongwriter Arielle Silver this issue, and finds out what makes the artist tick “There’s something about the carols Or something about the booze That makes me think I’ve got nothing left to lose Cause the Yule log’s burning brightly But I’m here on Christmas Eve Thinking maybe it’s time for me to leave” With lyrics like these, you’d have to wonder why indie-folk artist, Arielle Silver quit her songwriting career a decade ago, moved to Los Angeles, and took a behind-the-scenes job in the music business.

However, in 2018, Silver fell back in love with songwriting. In 2019, she began performing again, and despite 10 years off, she launched a Spring 2019 crowdfunding campaign, raising over $26k to record a new indie-folk / Americana project: A THOUSAND TINY TORCHES. In advance of the album, slated for early 2020, she brought out a break-up single, LONELY TIME OF YEAR, and on those winter holiday nights when you’re feeling a bit blue, it’s the perfect track to realise others are feeling the same! The track features a full band and moving percussion, and the emotional lyrics paint wonderful imagery of the holiday season, including morose feelings of a fresh breakup.

Arielle is no stranger to the music industry - but she quit songwriting over a decade ago, after releasing three albums and touring nationally with her band. Exhausted and burned-out, she put away her guitar, moved to Los Angeles, and started working behind-the-scenes in the music industry.

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Kota Wade Image: Trendpr

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A few years later, with multiple awards for literary writing, a first divorce and a second marriage to show for it, she fell back in love with songwriting. As of 2018, she’s returned to her roots, and rediscovered her passion for making and performing music.

Produced by Shane Alexander, A THOUSAND TINY TORCHES was recorded by Michael Gehring at Secret World Studios in the legendary Sound City complex in Los Angeles, mixed by GRAMMY-winner Brian Yaskulka (Lisa Loeb), and mastered by GRAMMY-winner Hans DeKline (U2). The album features drummer Denny Weston Jr. (KT Tunstall), steel guitars and percussion by Jesse Siebenberg (Lady Gaga, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real), piano/organ/bells by Carl Byron (Rita Coolidge), bass by Darby Orr (Naked To The World), and mandolin by Mike Mullins (David Grisman).

The lush harmonies on Silver’s 2nd and 3rd albums, SOMETHING PRETTY SOMETHING TRUE, and ON THE DASHBOARD OF A SHAKY CAR, display an array of exceptional musicians, including Adam Ollendorff (Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson) on pedal steel, dobro, baritone guitar. Songs from both were broadcast on AAA, college, and internet radio stations across the US and Canada. More recently, her behind-the-scenes songs and compositions have been licensed for film/TV. Also a writer and poet, Arielle’s literary work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best New Poets, and more. Truly a creative in every sense of the word, Arielle Silver is one to watch for 2020!.

-MKB You can catch up with Arielle at: https://www.facebook.com/ariellesilvermusic/ https://www.instagram.com/ariellesilver/ https://ariellesilvermusic.com/

Album Art for Lonely Time of Year 12 EILE Magazine

Arielle Silver Photos: Anabel DFlux

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Letitia VanSant Letitia - folksinger, storytellerand activist

Letitia VanSant’s entrancing new album, Circadian, is powerful and simple, harkening back to a time not too long ago when the lines between folksinger, storyteller, and activist were not just blurred, but nearly nonexistent.

In our modern age of categories and brands and sound bites, the aforementioned renaissance women and men have seemingly fallen through the cracks, or have been pigeonholed into one role or the other. Enter Circadian, out February 21, and VanSant, a massively honest singer-songwriter, tracing political realities to their spiritual roots.

Recently, The Boot premiered one of the album’s tracks, Something Real, and its accompanying music video, filmed on Chesapeake Bay, near VanSant’s grandfather’s old house, with VanSant’s friends and giant dog in tow. The song came to VanSant at a moment when she was feeling cynical about music and life in general.

“I was at Kerrville Folk Festival not long after the death of a beloved songwriter named

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Jimmy LaFave,” says VanSant.

“And although I never met him, I was amazed to feel how much his energy was still moving through the world, as people sang his songs around campfires.”

VanSant allowed her cloud of pessimism to blow over, and found a new driving force; the miracle that we’re alive, and that we’re so fortunate to gather with friends to create and sing songs in any form.

“So I created the video with that kind of joy in mind.”

(Listen to Something Real at:

http://smarturl.it/9vcwk5 ).

VanSant called on the production talent of Nashville’s Americana golden boy, Neilson Hubbard (Mary Gauthier, Caroline Spence) and they got together to cut the tracks for Circadian at Skinny Elephant Recording in East Nashville. Entering the studio with the intention of recording a 2-song EP, VanSant and Hubbard both recognised the chemistry between them, the studio musicians, and the

“I just figured that people are going to either like my singing or they’re not, and splicing and dicing to get the perfect take would probably hurt more than it helped”

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songs.

At the end of a week’s worth of recording, VanSant walked away with a 9-song album. Many of the songs were recorded live in just 2 or 3 takes, with a trio of renowned studio musicians—Will Kimbrough, Michael Rinne (Miranda Lambert), and Juan Solorzano—and several of the final vocal tracks were lifted directly from scratch tracks; takes usually thrown away in exchange for a more polished final performance.

“I just figured that people are going to either like my singing or they’re not, and splicing and dicing to get the perfect take would probably hurt more than it helped,” VanSant says about their decision.

With the end result, even the most discerning ears will be hard-pressed to hear a difference in the soul and execution of VanSant’s singing.

VanSant’s debut album, Gut It to the Studs, established her as an emerging talent on the Americana scene, and propelled her onto her first UK/ European tour, where she was met with enthusiasm by audiences and critics alike.

PopMatters defined her as “…a consummate reflection of a rising Americana star” and BBC Radio calls her “a fascinating new artist.” Among her additional accolades, she was named a winner of the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition, an honour

Images: Shervin Lainez/ Jocelyn Mackenzie

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previously presented to musicians, such as Robert Earl Keen, Anaïs Mitchell, Gordy Quist (Band of Heathens), Darden Smith, Hal Ketchum, James McMurtry, and Caroline Spence.

Although VanSant’s 2019 tour has wrapped up, she has a hefty schedule ahead of her in 2020, starting with performances at the Folk Alliance International Conference in New Orleans. February and March find VanSant looping around the northeast, before heading to California for a run of shows. She will return to the United Kingdom in April and May, with stops in Scotland, Wales, and England.

-M. Butler For more information on her tour dates, visit: https://www.letitiavansant.com/tour www.facebook.com/LetitiaVanSant/ VanSant’s new full-length album Circadian is due out February 21, 2020.

Circadian Track Listing: 1. You Can’t Put My Fire Out 2. Tin Man 3. Something Real 4. Most of Our Dreams Don’t Come True 5. Spilt Milk 6. Circadian 7. The Hustle 8. Driftwood 9. Rising Tide

Image: Faceboook

Album art f0r Circadian

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y project

Brooks Bros

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What’s trending for 2020?

Brian Rochford tells us what’s trending for 2020 in men’s fashions Now that 2020 is almost here, it’s time to be thinking of what the trends might be for the New Year.

As 2019 is ending, we can look back on how last year’s fashion-classic style pieces will be reinvented. As you all know, some trends and styles carry over into the next year, while other fashion pieces die away altogether. So now is the time to look out for new exciting styles that are sure to bring some colour, and magic, into the coming fashion season.

Fleece has been around for a long time, and it looks like it’s going to hang in there for the for-Fleeceable (sorry) future. Fleece is casual, comfortable, and warm, and, when layered with contrasting uplifting colours, can bring a style to your overall fashion look. You are likely to see a lot of fleece in the outlets this year. You can go casual or sporty with a good fleece jacket, and the new nylon-infused garments can also keep out the biting winds of the colder months.

Vintage was also big in 2019, and looks set to become

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even bigger in 2020, especially customising pieces, and many brands now rework collections to recreate that vintage look.

This is something that you can do yourself, by getting items from the thriftstore or charity shop and reworking them, thereby creating your own unique style. Many feel that this is good for the environment too, as you are using clothes that are already made.

Cosy and comfortable is still on-trend, but baggy is on the way out, and a more in-between baggy and tight-fitting style is what you will be seeing on the streets.

Workwear was big in 2019, and will still be trending next year, so look out for that.

Letterman jackets are still popular, and will remain in style for 2020.

This season, you will also see a lot more combinations of dressup and dress-down wear, contrasting stylish trousers with a more casual jacket, for instance, finished off with a pair of sneakers.

On the subject of accessories, heavy jewellery is a no-no this year, and the trend is for

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Dior

Givenchy

Rick Owens Hermes

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Review

A Boy Named Noel LGBT+ Themed Short Film Reviewed by Lisa Reynolds

A Boy Named Noel - Short LGBT Film Review A Boy Named Noel (2017) by Andreas Köstler and Irina Stuhlsatz, is a gorgeously put-together, gay-themed short movie about Noel, who is keeping from his family that he is gay, and that he has a boyfriend called Lucas.

We meet Noel (Maximilian Baumbach) at the Christmas table, where he is having dinner with his family for Christmas.

He clearly has a lot on his mind, and is missing Lucas (Lèon GruB) very much over the season.

Predictably uncomfortable questions, such as when is he going to be bringing home a girlfriend, abound, and soon Noel takes a break to go to his room and think about Lucas. We see flashbacks of their

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relationship, before Lucas comes to see Noel for Christmas. He gives him a book about their story, which is being read by the narrator, dressed as Santa, and is super warm and sweet.

There is also the most adorable dog ever, who comforts Noel when he is down, and is seen as part of Noel and Lucas’s romantic adventures. Such a little star!

This is a great watch for the Christmas season. It has a powerful message of being happy with who you are, and the importance of those around you loving you for who you are.

It shows the awkwardness and sadness so many people feel at Christmas, and all year round, when they are forced to, or feel forced to, conform to be a certain way, which isn’t true to them.

It is a very cute, sweet, and romantic story, which is well-written and well-acted, and when Noel and Lucas come together, it makes the heart all warm and fuzzy inside.

A must-watch for the holiday season, or any time of the year. Brilliant.

To watch A Boy Named Noel on YouTube go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaWMxmgtcm0&feature =emb_logo

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LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PINK ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM!

By Shaley Howard It’s the holiday season! A time to embrace loved ones, be merry, and celebrate! And whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s Eve, alcohol is everywhere. For those out there that can handle their booze, and put the drink down when they know they’ve had enough, I say: “Hear! Hear!”

Unfortunately, the problem is that many people, like me, can’t seem to do that, and routinely have fallen flat on our faces, only to be dragged off by friends at closing time, all while yelling in a drunken stupor: “I’m fiiinnnne!”

It strikes me that the problem of alcoholism and substance abuse is not going to improve, unless we attempt to have relentless heartfelt conversations, instead of ignoring it, and hoping it will somehow magically disappear.

It’s not at all surprising that the rates of alcoholism, substance abuse, and dependence are much higher within the LGBTQ+ community vs the straight population.

Most studies suggest [https://www.cdc. gov/msmhealth/substance-abuse.htm] that alcoholism is about 2-3 times higher

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for LGBTQ+ people, or approximately 25% higher compared to an average of 11% for straight people. There’s a reason why the rates of alcoholism and drug abuse are higher in the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s one word: Homophobia.

Let’s face it; to contemplate such a high variance in the statistics between the LGBTQ+ and straight population’s alcoholism and addiction rate, there’s one major glaring difference. That difference, and this is just a wild guess on my part, is probably due to the fact that one group is in perfect alignment with this heteronormative culture, and the other is handed a big bag of homophobia and transphobia from birth. Now don’t get me wrong, all human beings have struggles that can also lead to alcoholism and addiction, for a variety of reasons. But we’re talking about a significant statistical increase in addiction within the LGBTQ+ community.

Most LGBTQ+ people, who have alcohol or drug problems, have usually experienced some feelings of alienation, or lack of acceptance, by family, friends, or society, because of their sexual orientation, and/or gender identity. I personally grew up closeted,

Image: traumarecovery.net

and it wasn’t until I entered college that I came out. Before and even after coming out, I still felt somehow slightly abnormal, and like I didn’t belong. So I drank like a fish to try and fit in, find acceptance, and drown my feelings of unworthiness.

I’m also predisposed to being an addict/ alcoholic, which certainly didn’t help, although alcoholism can also be a learned behaviour.

So mix together the combination of pretending to be something I was not, a longing to fit in and belong, plus the genetic makeup of a full-blown addict, then toss in a culture of ignorance and denial around addiction, alcoholism, and homophobia, it’s not shocking that I ended up in rehab - said no-one ever.

But here’s the thing — I’m clearly not alone.

So many of my LGBTQ+ family have also

suffered, and for similar reasons. Times certainly have changed in the last 20+ years since I came out, but homophobia and transphobia are still very much alive, whether it’s in the form of bullying, insults, queer jokes, or actual physical assaults. It’s no wonder so many LGBTQ+ feel the need to closet or curb their sexual orientation or gender identity.

And even if you are openly gay and out, most people on some level are affected by, and/or not impervious to, the homophobic world around us. Often self-hatred, depression, anxiety, stress, and isolation will take root. So it seems natural that marginalised people in these situations would turn to alcohol and drugs to alleviate the pain.

A lesbian friend, who has been in recovery

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for almost 9 years, shared that she started drinking simply as a way to fit in. It made her feel good and indestructible. It was a way to numb her emotions. She used alcohol as a way to hide and mask any thoughts of being gay in this culture.

Another friend, who identifies as a gay male, started drinking when he was 18 years old.

He shared how shy he was, and thought if he drank, he would be more outgoing and desirable. Because, as we all know, there is nothing more attractive than an 18 year-old kid slurring his words and falling off his bar stool.

Another common problem is that even today, especially in more rural places, in order to find other LGBTQ+ people and socialise, many people turn to bars, because they feel there’s nowhere else to go. Some of that has shifted over the years, as people are becoming more aware of alcohol and drug problems. Still however, all too often the clubs and bars are where people meet and hang out. And with the prevalence of alcohol — and the drug culture we live in, the danger of addiction increases.

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The consequences, of course, are people spiralling even further into depression and self-hatred, the possibility of endangering others and themselves, engaging in risky sexual behaviour, and overall bad choices.

So what to do?

First and foremost, if you feel like you may have an alcohol or substance-abuse problem, ask for help. It is 100% true that you have to be the one who saves you. The good news is, once you ask for help, you will find support, love, and people who genuinely care. Second, if you know someone who clearly has some sort of addiction problem, say something. I always thought how unbelievable it is that we are often more concerned about someone not ‘liking’ us, or yelling if we call them out vs not saying anything, while they continue to destroy their lives. It’s ok to speak the truth, especially when it’s coming from a place of authentic love and concern.

There are also plenty of alcohol and drug dependency support groups. Start looking for a community outside events or places where alcohol is present. Look for other LGBTQ+ activities or groups that don’t involve alcohol. What are your hobbies, besides drinking and drugging? Sports, knitting, outdoorsy things, book clubs, meetups, volunteering? Find something you like in the LGBTQ+ community, and dive in!

Another friend, who identifies as a lesbian, recently celebrated her seventh year of sobriety. When asked what she’s done to stay sober, she said she makes a deliberate attempt to surround herself with positive, supportive, goal-oriented, individuals. And, she added, people who will also call her out on her BS. The last thing you need are people around you that look the other way or enable. If you live in a smaller community that is limited,

try attending your local alcoholics anonymous groups. And don’t just attend, talk to people.

Get to know them. Groups like AA usually are very social, and host a variety of events, such as game nights, hiking trips, and potlucks. Yes potlucks, my fellow lesbians. I do understand if you’re used to going out and clubbing, these activities can seem dull. But trust me, acting a fool due to drugs and alcohol, losing your job, your friends, your house, and even possibly your life — are much worse.

One thing I do know, from my own personal experience, is there is no shame in asking for help. What’s shameful is living in a world where people desperately need help, but are too embarrassed or afraid to simply ask, for fear of being judged or appearing weak because of some external stigma society has about addiction.

Substance abuse and alcoholism are beasts that will take over physically and psychologically. And even though we live in a world full of discrimination, this disease doesn’t care. It won’t discriminate against sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, race, age, or lifestyle.

So if you think you need help, just ask. The more we talk about the problem, the less power it has. And the more we surround ourselves with positive people, both in the LGBTQ+ and straight ally population, the more the lies of homophobia and transphobia fade, and we will become healthier as individuals, and community overall.

I’m not for a minute suggesting recovery and battling addiction are quick and easy paths.

But the alternative is to continue ignoring the pink elephant in the room, and our ignorance of how damaging addiction can be, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.

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Health

Staying healthy and fit during the Holiday Season Brian Rochford on how to counteract the effects of over-indulgence during the festive season We all know that the Winter holiday season can be great fun, but it can also be stressful, and through overeating, and overindulgence in alcohol, it may take a toll on our health, so here are some top tips to keep you feeling in good spirits, and in great shape, throughout the festive holiday.

Tip number one is to stay hydrated. If you do nothing else, make sure to drink plenty of water, as you can become dehydrated due to increased alcohol consumption, but also through running around when buying presents for instance, and cleaning and decorating the house. We all do it!

Because you naturally tend to eat more at this time of the year, you will be increasing your salt intake, so it makes sense to increase your water intake.

It has been said that exercise is the king of health, with nutrition being queen, and

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as there is a tendency, once the furore is over, to be less active during the holidays, take the time to get out in the air and be as active as you possibly can. You don’t have to do any more than 30 minutes a day, even walking at speed, and, as always, if you are just starting an exercise programme, or have any medical condition, check with your medical professional for advice. Your exercise routine will give you that extra edge, and will burn off any extra calories that you may be consuming.

This time of year is all about excess. You are going to want to eat more of everything, and especially foods that you would not normally eat at other times of the year. A good tip would be that, when you are eating your main meal, to fill at least half of your plate with vegetables. When you eat more roughage, you will be less likely to want the foods that have high calorie content. It is worth mentioning that you will also benefit from the high mineral and vitamin content from increased vegetable consumption.

Another useful tip is to get plenty of sleep.

When you are tired, listless, and lacking in energy, you tend to crave more sugar. It is

Image: msc cruises

only natural to want to maintain your energy levels throughout the day, so it is easy to find yourself bingeing on sugary snacks.

It is also worth a mention also that drinking more alcohol than usual depletes B vitamins, so make sure to take your B vitamin supplements, and drink plenty of water.

There are so many healthy options available today that are nutritious, and really taste great, that you can be healthy and indulge yourself a little.

So have a wonderful, happy and healthy Holiday Season!

If you are someone who likes sweets and desserts, and you do not have a problem with blood sugar, a useful suggestion might be that you have your sweets and desserts earlier in the day. This means that you can work off the extra calories, and put the excess energy to good use.

The holiday season is about enjoyment, and you don’t have to restrict yourself too much.

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Review

Cool Yule

Retro Review of Bette Midler's seasonal albumBy Lisa Reynolds Cool Yule By Bette Midler - Retro Review Cool Yule (2006) by Bette Midler is a wonderful listen for the Holiday season.

The album includes Midler’s versions of numerous Christmas classics, as well as the penultimate track, which is a Christmas version of Midler’s song, From a Distance.

Produced by Robbie Buchanan and Jay Landers, there are eleven tracks on the album to enjoy over Christmas, which are sung by Midler, with music performed by a host of musicians.

Track one is Merry Christmas, which opens the album beautifully, and creates a lovely homely Christmas scene in your mind.

Midler’s vocal is gorgeous and full of warmth on this track, and welcomes listeners to the album in fine style.

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The title track, Cool Yule, comes next, and with it, a change of pace with this more upbeat song. It is a cover of Louis Armstrong’s 1953 classic. Tremendously catchy, and so easy to dance to, it is a Christmas party favourite, and is also my favourite on the album.

The pace changes again with the iconic Christmas ballad, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Midler does a stunning job here.

She sings it in a beautiful heartfelt and passionate way - simply beautiful.

Song four is a mash-up of Winter Wonderland and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! and is a duet with Johnny Mathis. It is very fun and lively, and the two tracks complement each other very well.

It works brilliantly. Another great party tune for the season.

Next up is a cover of Bing Crosby’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas.

Bette Midler Image: time.com

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Midler’s vocal is emotionally-rich, and she conveys the message of the song with perfection.

The second part of the album opens with Midler’s version of Margaret Whiting’s 1947 song, What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? This track opens with some stunningly raw ‘a cappella’ vocals from Midler, before turning into musical accompaniment of a gorgeous piano lounge sound, with Midler’s delightful vocals. The jazzy saxophone solo is also amazing on this one.

Next up is the very infectious, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm. It flows along with wonderful ease, and the instrumentals are great and go very well with Midler’s vocals.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, follows.

Midler’s vocal and the instrumentals are beautifully haunting and understated.

Very hypnotic.

Mele Kalikimaka is next. It is a Hawaiianstyle track from 1949, and there have been versions by Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, and The Beach Boys in the past. It has a very jolly, lively, and energetic vibe. Super fun listen.

Next is Midler’s Christmas version of her 1985 song, From a Distance, which was

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Image: superstarsbio.com

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Travel

The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife starts on 24th January 2020. It’s the most important carnival in Europe, and the second most important in the world (top-billing goes to Rio de Janeiro, Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s sister city).

Hundreds of thousands of people will congregate in the Canary Islands, from 24th January until 1st March, to celebrate the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival, the most important carnival in Europe, and the second most important in the world.

In 1987, 250,00 people took to the streets to dance to the music of Celia Cruz, and, in the process, beat the Guinness world record.

Since then, visitor numbers have continued to increase. For example, 2019; 400,000 people gathered on Piñata Saturday, the most important day of the carnival.

The celebrations consist of two distinct parts: The Official Carnival, and The Street Carnival.

The Official Carnival is made up of more than 100 designated groups, each composed of, on average, 50 parts. There can be strange bands clothed in fancy dress, troupes of dancers, actors, and singers, street musicians, string ensembles, and other musical groups. In total more than 5,000 people flood the streets in a spectacle of light, sound, and colour.

Alternatively, The Street Carnival - declared a ‘Fiesta of International Tourist Interest’ by the Spanish Ministry of Tourism in 1980 - is open entry; anyone can dress up, dance and participate.

One of the most important events is the Carnival Queen Election Gala. On 24th 34 EILE Magazine

January, dozens of competitors, in various categories, flaunt their wares, in costumes that have been carefully tailored over many months.

In some cases, outfits have been valued at tens of thousands of euros.

In many workshops in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, craftsmen work long hours in search of an authentic carnival costume. Santi Castro, president of the Association of Carnival Designers, believes that to understand the carnival, it is essential to “spend a few hours in an artisan’s workshop, to see the Queen live from the inside, get to know her guts...it’s pure passion.”

Castro should know; he has been designing carnival queen costumes for 40 years.

Songs with social and political criticism Masi Carvajal, the director of one of the murgas, called Diablos Locos, says that “the best thing to do is to see the whole carnival all the way down to the day-to-day contests of the street performers. That way you get to see the whole range.”

Murgas are groups of song-writers, who sing songs through the carnival streets. They compete with one another for prizes, and their lyrics cover subjects that include socioeconomic problems, corruption, gender inequality, and gender-based violence.

Music includes comparsas, groups of musicians and dancers, which resemble the samba schools of the Rio carnival. Tenerife’s first comparsa was created in the sixties by Manuel Monzón, and today the troupes - of various distinctly arranged styles - form an integral part of the

Priscila Medina, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, carnival queen in 2019

festivities.

celebrates the triumphant return of the newly wealthy Canary Islanders, who travelled to the José Manuel González, the director of Cariocas, Americas. Sosó reprises his celebrated role one of the oldest comparsas on the island, of Negra Tomasa, in this strange and original states: party. The city’s main square is converted into a piece of Cuba, and, for decoration, talcum “The Rhythm and Harmony Parade along Anaga powder is sprinkled over everyone.

Avenue is really something to experience. It’s amazing.”

San Sebastián de La Gomera offers an

alternative to the queens’ galas, or the Festival Some other Carnivals in the Canary Islands of the Murgas, in the capital. The Carnival of Since 1998, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has Talcum Powder is a day of disguise. All who held the internationally renowned, Drag Gala. participate use talcum power, flour or even The show, which loves to shock, sees men in indigo pigment to conceal themselves. drag, as they perform competing dance routines Carnivals are played out, not only on land, but on jam-packed platforms, raised high into the also at sea. In Fuerteventura, the arretrancos sky. and achipencos festivals are great fun, and crazy vehicles move from dry land to water.

A highly recommended event is the Carnival For more information, visit: de Los Indianos, in Santa Cruz de La Palma.

It has been running for over 50 years, and https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/

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Travel

game of thrones tours - antrim The wild scenery of our stunning little island has understandably captured the hearts of filmmakers around the world!

And of course, it should come as no surprise to most fans of Game of Thrones that many scenes from the series were filmed in the beautiful County Antrim.

So, if you or a loved one are self-proclaimed Game of Thrones enthusiasts, and simply can’t imagine anything better than uncovering the magical Winterfell castle - Wild Rover Tours’ Game of Thrones Tour from Dublin is one for the holiday list!

Why book the Game of Thrones Tour from Dublin?

Visit locations where some of the most iconic blood-curdling Game of Thrones scenes were filmed Savour the seaside town of Carnlough... maybe better known as the dramatic city of Braavos!

Along the Causeway Coastal Route, stop at the Cushendun Caves, where you could swear you saw ships sailing from Westeros on the horizon With our lunch stop at the Fullerton Arms, claim your place at a very realistic Iron Throne!

Visit the House of Greyjoy (otherwise known as the Dunluce Castle) where you can hear

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the family’s affairs echoing Let your expert guide weave stories of Irish myth and truth that undoubtedly give this location its otherworldly magic Get 10% off a second Wild Rover Day Tour from Dublin, when booking them at the same time!

Price: Adult €55.00, plus booking fee Availability: 5 days a week Pickup: 7.15am, Dublin Bus Office, 59 O’Connell Street Upper, Dublin 1 Drop off: 8.10pm, O’ Connell Street Things to bring: All-weather clothing and a smile on your face Included: GOT costumes, transport, guides, and all admissions Interested in booking the Game of Thrones Tour for you or a loved one? Simply visit: https://wildrovertours.com/activity/ game-of-thrones-tour-from-dublin/ For further information on Wild Rover Tours’ and its services please visit www.wildrovertours.com

Dunluce Castle aka House of Greyjoy

Images: wildrovertours.com

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Galway: Weekly Event! Let’s Have A Kiki – Upstairs at the Róisín Dubh – FREE Entry!

There is a faboulous LGBT+ event happening in Galway, upstairs in the Róisín Dubh, every Wednesday night.

Join the Queen of Galway herself, Kiki St. Clair of GASS, in the upstairs bar of the Róisín Dubh, Dominick Street, Galway, for Let’s have a Kiki night, full of pop, camp hits, and disco floor fillers.

This is a weekly event, every Wednesday night, and it’s FREE entry!

“Lock the doors, lower the blinds, fire up the smoke machine, and put on your heels, ‘cos we know exactly what you need… Let’s Have A Kiki“.

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Frances Winston on Movies Directed by: J.J. Abrams – Starring: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong’o, Kelly Marie Tran, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams After 42 years, the epic saga of Star Wars finally comes to an end in this, the ninth instalment. Well actually, the Star Wars universe lives on, thanks to numerous spin-offs and additions to the franchise, since it was taken over by Disney, so this is just the ninth movie in the original story. But it will probably be the last time you’ll see any of the OGs involved in it, as it does finally bring to an end the saga of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, et al.

I’m assuming that anyone with an interest in this film is at least familiar with the previous movies (because if you’re not, you’ll be totally lost – just saying!) and therefore you’ll know the amount of loose ends that have to be wrapped up here.

As such we get numerous plot tangents – in fact the whole

storyline is pretty much made up of a series of tangents. It’s difficult to explain it without giving away spoilers, but in a nutshell, the resistance must thwart Emperor Palpatine’s efforts to conquer the galaxy.

So cue lots of CGI heavy action-scenes and space battles.

Director Abrams is also one of the writers, and it is obvious he is trying to cater to all the long-standing fans. As such, we get a few surprise cameos, and lots of Easter eggs and cross references to previous offerings. However, it often feels like this is nothing more than an homage, as it tries to wrap everything up neatly, while also keeping everyone happy (an impossible task).

The plot often feels overblown and unimaginative.

It is common knowledge that the late Carrie Fisher’s scenes are comprised of leftover footage from the previous two movies, and it has to be said that it does feel a bit stilted.

Obviously, this isn’t Fisher’s fault, and in context, I’m sure her scenes were great.

I couldn’t help feeling she deserved better though.

Anthony Daniels as the droid, C3PO (he’s also the only actor to have featured in all nine of these movies)!

This looks extremely impressive (as you’d expect since LucasFilm pioneered the CGI in use here) but it always feels like it’s trying to tick too many boxes, ultimately making for a disappointing watch.

It tries to blind you with excitement and action, but in the moments where no one is flashing a lightsabre, or shooting down an enemy ship, the holes and weaknesses in the plot are gaping.

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting this payoff since the first instalment in 1977, you won’t find it very satisfying.

The fanbase is so devoted though that it’s still sure to make a fortune at the box office, and generate plenty of lucrative merchandise for Disney.

In Cinemas Now!

Unfortunately for all the actors, with such a large cast all vying for their piece of the action, no character or actor was ever really going to get a chance to shine. Ironically, one of the most poignant performances comes from EILE Magazine 41

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Frances Winston on Movies continued...

Directed by: Jake Kasdan – Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito I was extremely pleasantly surprised by 2017’s Jumaji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Despite initial trepidation about a remake of the muchloved classic movie, I felt that they had tweaked the premise – having four teenagers sucked into a computer game, and be transformed into their avatar alter-egos, instead of having people trapped in a board game – just enough to differentiate it, while also retaining the elements that made the original such fun.

I obviously wasn’t the only one who thought so, as it was a massive hit, hence this sequel.

game, so that he can once again inhabit the body of his avatar, Dr Smoulder Bravestone (Johnson). When his friends notice that he’s missing, they decide to enter the game to rescue him.

However, his grandfather, Eddie (DeVito) is in the vicinity with his friend Milo (Glover) and they inadvertently find themselves sucked into the game as well.

So with two pensioners who haven’t a clue about video games in tow, the gang must try and find Spencer and escape the game, before their lives run out.

Like all good sequels, Jumanji: The Next Level takes the best elements of the original and adds to them – in this case DeVito and Glover – which allows for much broader humour. The fact that it’s set in a video-game gives them a lot of free rein in terms of set-pieces, and there is some fabulous CGI, stunning locations, and epic cinematography.

At the end of the last movie (spoiler if you haven’t seen it) the game was destroyed, but unbeknownst to everyone, one of the teenagers who entered the game, Spencer (Wolff), had kept the components of it.

The main cast acquit themselves well again, as they take on the multiple personalities of the various people who inhabit their avatars. Johnson in particular proves extremely funny and self deprecating, and Gillen is a totally kick-ass heroine.

Feeling somewhat displaced while home for the holidays, he decides to re-enter the

Jumanji: The Next Level is great fun, with something for everyone. It is part body-swap

comedy, part Indiana Jones adventure, and part computer game fantasy. It has some beautiful touching moments, and plenty of ‘laugh out loud’ scenes.

It is silly, yet manages to have an underlying serious message about friendship and family that never feels forced. While the last movie felt like its target audience was predominately tweens and teens, Jumanji: The Next Level feels much more familyorientated, and could well be on the way to becoming a beloved family franchise.

And since it’s set in a computer game, the plot possibilities are endless, as they can create ever more inventive ‘levels’.

Jumanji: The Next Level isn’t trying to be anything it isn’t. It is a popcorn movie – pure and simple. But a really enjoyable one.

In Cinemas Now!

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Frances Winston on Movies continued...

Directed by: Lisa Barros D’Sa, Glenn Leyburn – Starring: Liam Neeson, Lesley Manville It’s been so long since I saw Liam Neeson in anything but an action film, that I almost forgot he was a serious actor.

But in this offering, there is no hiding behind explosions or special effects. Ordinary Love is a pure human drama of the kind that you don’t see very often.

Neeson and Manville play a married couple, Tom and Joan, who lost their daughter several years beforehand. Now settled into a routine of gentle walks and playful bickering, they can’t imagine that life will throw them any more heartache.

Unfortunately, while showering, Joan discovers a lump on her breast, and when it proves malignant, the pair start the difficult cancer journey, which will force them to really examine their relationship.

Ordinary Love is the first feature-film from acclaimed playwright, Owen McCafferty, and his theatrical origins are evident. Despite one or two secondary characters, this is very much a two-hander between the leads, and almost feels like it was written for the stage at times. It helps that Neeson and Manville have

a lovely intimate chemistry, which really draws you into their world. As Joan sits having a chemo session, they discuss which of the bins is supposed to be put out that night, and there is an absolute feeling of normalcy about it all.

It is rare to see two actors of a certain age leading any sort of film. Indeed, Neeson has even said of their love scenes, it was the first time he’s ever done a scene like that with someone in the same decade as himself – which is a pretty sad indictment on the film industry. Ordinary Love proves though that it is possible to make an engaging drama about real people, without inexplicably casting a 25-year-old in the lead role. Both give beautiful performances, and Manville’s, in particular, feels incredibly brave and vulnerable.

Interestingly, despite musician, David Holmes, being a producer, there is little in the way of score here. The dialogue and the story do the talking. This only serves to add to the often theatrical feel of it.

Ordinary Love is a far more complex story than it appears on paper, and it is a real and human story – something which is pretty sparse in cinema at the moment. It is poignant, funny, and moving.

A gorgeous drama that will leave you with a lump in your throat.

In Cinemas Now!

Husband and wife directing team, Barros D’Sa and Leyburn, have treated the subject matter extremely thoughtfully, without ever making it schmaltzy or overly sentimental. The fact that they don’t try and tug at your heartstrings actually makes it all the more poignant.

As most people have been affected by cancer at some point, there may be scenes in this which will be disturbing to some, but it is good that they haven’t romanticised the process.

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Review Forever Young Festival WinterFest 2019- Killarney

By Frances Winston Forever Young Festival WinterFest INEC Killarney, December 6th and 7th 2019.

The line up: Friday – Doctor & the Medics, Altered Images, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones Saturday: Doctor & the Medics, Andrew Strong, The Christians, Nick Heyward, Go West, Tony Hadley Following on from the hugely successful and lauded Forever Young Festival in the Summer, Winterfest saw a whole host of 80s stars descend on Killarney for a two-day preChristmas pop party.

The summer Festival had the benefit of beautiful weather (mainly) and the novelty value of being the inaugural year. Also

the idea of a festival in Winter feels a bit discombobulating. Obviously people aren’t camping on site, and therefore were staying in various hotels, apartments and B&Bs, which did initially feel like it somewhat affected the camaraderie that existed during the summer one. It also meant that people tended to dribble in at their leisure, as they didn’t have the sense of urgency you get at an outdoor festival, when you can hear the bands from your tent. However, once the crowd were in, it was as if they were back in a field in Naas last Summer.

Doctor & The Medics kicked off both days, as The Doc himself, Clive Jackson, was compèring the entire weekend. He proved a huge hit at the summer festival, and yet again he went down a storm, engaging the crowd and exuding personality. I said it in the Summer, and I’ll say it again – someone give that guy his own show.

Friday kicked off later in the day, to allow people to travel, hence there were less acts.

Altered Images were poptastic fun. They were followed by Nik Kershaw, who played one song and promptly left the stage for five minutes, as the keyboards weren’t working,

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and it would take that long to fix them. This was a bit of a surprise to the audience, but when he returned he really played a blinder. All his biggest hits were there, and he even threw in a little ditty he penned for Chesney Hawkes, called The One And Only. Rounding off the night, Howard Jones went down a treat giving an energetic and visually stunning performance.

Day two once again saw The Doc kick off proceedings, followed by Andrew Strong, aka Decco from The Commitments. As you would expect, his set was full of soul classics that had the crowd singing along. The Christians were actually a huge surprise. Obviously, I knew their music, but I would never have described myself as a fan. I am totally converted though after a fantastic set, punctuated by Garry Christian’s acerbic wit.

Former Haircut 100 singer, Nick Heyward, was up next, and I’m pretty sure he has a picture in his attic ageing for him. He looked astonishingly well, and at least 15 years younger than his actual age. He ensured that everyone in the audience had a “Fantastic Day”, with a fabulously upbeat set.

Go West treated the audience to several covers, alongside their own hits, including Sex is on Fire. Peter Cox’s voice is still wonderful, and he and bandmate, Richard Drummie, seemed to be having a great time.

Last but not least, Spandau Ballet legend, Tony Hadley, opened with a Christmas song, before performing a set filled with Spandau hits that had the crowd dancing and singing along. He has such an easy rapport with the crowd, and it’s easy to think that he’s singing just for you.

The party didn’t end with the bands either day, as there was a silent disco into the small hours each night, alongside Rockaoke (Friday)and a Duran Duran Tribute (Saturday) in another room, ensuring that guests got to dance until their feet hurt.

It didn’t quite have the same atmosphere as the summer festival – no indoor offering ever could. But it still had a lovely warm, welcoming and friendly vibe. The acts were topnotch and getting a road trip to beautiful Killarney was a bonus. Also the Forever Young festivals raise lots of money for the ISPCA and animal welfare, so you also get to do your bit for a good cause by supporting them., A lovely way to wrap up the festival year, this definitely left people excited for next summer’s Forever Young.

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Tony Hadley Image: Wikipedia

Tickets for Forever Young 2020 are on sale now: https://foreveryoungfestival.ie/

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US: MerleFest – John Prine, Billy Strings, Kelsey Waldon for 2020 MerleFest Announces Lineup Additions For 2020 Festival John Prine, Billy Strings, and more to play annual North Carolina festival MerleFest, presented by Window World, has announced the next round of artist additions for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26.

John Prine, Billy Strings, Colin Hay, Kelsey Waldon, and Gangstagrass will be joining the annual homecoming of musicians and music fans, on the campus of Wilkes Community College, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This lineup announcement adds five great artists to MerleFest’s already stacked lineup: Willie Nelson & Family, Alison Krauss, The Jerry Douglas Band, Sam Bush, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, The Waybacks, Scythian, Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan and the Free Mexican Airforce, Tommy Emmanuel, Shinyribs, Charley Crockett, Darrell Scott, The Steel Wheels, Robbie Fulks, Amythyst Kiah, Cordovas, Alison Brown, Andy May, “B” Townes, Banknotes, Bill & The Belles, Bryan Sutton, Carol Rifkin,

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Charles Welch, Chatham Rabbits, Che Apalache, The Cleverlys, Creole Stomp with Dennis Stroughmatt, David Holt, Fireside Collective, Flattop, Happy Traum, Hogslop String Band, InterACTive Theatre of Jef, Irish Mythen, Iron Horse Bluegrass, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Jody Carroll, Joe Smothers, Ken Crouse, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Los Texmaniacs, Mark Bumgarner, Mary Flower, Mitch Greenhill, Pete & Joan Wernick, Piedmont Bluz, Presley Barker, Rev. Robert Jones, Roy Book Binder, Sierra Ferrell, String Madness, T. Michael Coleman, Tony Williamson, Wayne Henderson, The Moore Brothers, The Williams Brothers, and Wyld Fern.

John Prine is a two-time Grammy-winner, and among the English language’s premier phrase-turners. Almost 50 years into a remarkable career, he has drawn effusive praise from Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Roger Waters, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and others who would know.

Prine is a smiling, shuffling, force for good.

He is a 2019 Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductee, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and a PEN New England Lyrics Award recipient, whose classic debut album, simply titled John Prine, is recognised as part of the Recording Academy’s Grammy

Merlefest Image: wikipedia

Image: jpshrine.org

Billy Strings Image: wikipedia

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Hall of Fame, and whose songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band and many others.

His critically-acclaimed new album, The Tree of Forgiveness, was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb and recently debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200—a career-high chart position and sales week for the legendary singer, songwriter, and performer. John Prine will perform on Sunday afternoon.

Tickets for next year’s festival are on sale now and may be purchased at www.

MerleFest.org or by calling 1-800-3437857. MerleFest offers a three-tiered pricing structure and encourages fans to take advantage of the extended early bird discount. Early Bird Tier 1 tickets may be purchased from November 12 to February 16, 2020; Early Bird Tier 2 tickets from February 17 to April 22. Remaining tickets will be sold at the gate during the festival.

MerleFest would also like to remind potential participants that the entry period for 2020’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is still open. Now in its 28th year, CASC is an extraordinary opportunity for songwriters to have their original songs heard and judged by a panel of Nashville music industry professionals, under the direction of volunteer contest chairperson, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale. Aspiring songwriters may submit entries to the contest using the online entry form at MerleFest.org or by mailing entries to MerleFest/CASC, P.O. Box 120, Wilkesboro, NC, 28697.

Entries received during December and January will require a $30 fee per entry.

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All lyrics must be written in English and no instrumental entries will be accepted. The deadline to enter is February 1, 2020.

About MerleFest: MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the son of the late American music legend Doc Watson, renowned guitarist Eddy Merle Watson.

MerleFest is a celebration of “traditional plus” music, a unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including old-time, classic country, bluegrass, folk and gospel, and blues, and expanded to include Americana, classic rock, and many other styles. The festival hosts a diverse mix of artists on its 13 stages during the course of the four-day event. MerleFest is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, funding scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.

For more information, please visit www.MerleFest.org.

Kelsey Waldon Image: savingcountrymusic.com

John Prine and Kelsey Waldon Image: wmot.org

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Dublin Film Critics Circle 2019 Annual Awards Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story has been named best film of 2019, in the 13th annual poll from the Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC).

so strong in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale, won the prize for her performance. Kantemir Balagov, whose Russian film, Beanpole, astonished towards the end of the year, was named best breakthrough director.

In another sign that Netflix is increasingly making the running at awards season, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman was comfortably ahead of the following pack in second place.

The Dublin Film Critics Circle comprises fulltime critics, working within the capital and beyond. In addition to its annual awards, it presents a range of prizes at the Dublin International Film Festival.

Baumbach’s study of a bitter divorce between two bohemians, scored near-unprecedented success across the categories. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson triumphed, as, respectively, best actor and best actress. Baumbach took the prize for best screenplay. Scorsese secured best director.

Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Favourite looks to have suffered from its domestic release early in the year (on January 1st). The film figures seventh in the best film race, but only eighth in the competition for best Irish film. The film qualifies in the home category, but ultimately lost out to Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman’s supernatural comedy, Extra Ordinary.

Among international films, there was an impressively strong showing for Olivia Wilde’s delightful comedy, Booksmart. Ignored by other critics circles throughout the globe, the film scored top-five finishes in best film, best director, and best screenplay.

The DFCC awarded two breakthrough awards.

Aisling Franciosci, the Irish actor who was 54 EILE Magazine

DFCC 2019 POLL BEST FILM 1. Marriage Story 2. The Irishman 3. Pain and Glory 4. Joker 5. Booksmart 6. Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood 7. The Favourite 8. Hustlers/High Life 9. The Souvenir 10. Ash is Purest White/Monos BEST DIRECTOR 1. Martin Scorsese, The Irishman 2. Pedro Almodóvar, Pain and Glory 3. Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story 4. Olivia Wilde, Booksmart 5. Todd Phillips, Joker 6. Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite 7. Jordan Peele, Us

8. Claire Denis, High Life 9. Lorene Scafaria, Hustlers 10. Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in…

Hollywood BEST ACTOR 1. Adam Driver, Marriage Story 2. Joaquin Phoenix, Joker 3. Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory 4. Robert De Niro, The Irishman 5. Christian Bale, Vice 6. Taron Egerton, Rocketman 7. Brad Pitt, Ad Astra 8. Robert Pattinson, High Life/Stephan James, If Beale Street Could Talk 9. Steve Coogan, Stan and Ollie 10. Felix Maritaud, Savage BEST ACTRESS 1. Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story 2.Lupita Nyong’o, Us 3. Olivia Colman, The Favourite 4. Renee Zellweger, Judy 5. Jessie Buckley, Wild Rose 6. Florence Pugh, Midsommar 7. Saoirse Ronan, Little Women 8. Awkwafina, The Farewell 9. Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers 10. Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Kindergarten Teacher BEST SCREENPLAY 1. Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story 2. Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, Katie Silberman, Booksmart 3. Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in…

Hollywood 4. Rian Johnson, Knives Out 5. Steven Zaillian, The Irishman 6. Joanna Hogg, The Souvenir 7. Lulu Wang, The Farewell 8. Pedro Almodóvar, Pain and Glory 9. Jordan Peele, Us 10. Lorene Scafaria, Hustlers

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 1. Hoyte van Hoytema, Ad Astra 2. James Laxton, If Beale Street Could Talk 3. Lawrence Sher, Joker 4. Robert Richardson, Once Upon a Time in…

Hollywood 5.Pawel Pogorzelski, Midsommar 6. Rodrigo Prieto, The Irishman 7. Robbie Ryan, Marriage Story 8. Robbie Ryan, The Favourite 9. Adam Newport-Berra, The Last Black Man in San Francisco 10. Jasper Wolf, Monos BEST IRISH FILM 1. Extra Ordinary 2. The Hole in the Ground 3. A Bump Along the Way 4. Ordinary Love 5. Gaza 6. Papi Chulo 7. The Dig 8. The Favourite 9. Greta 10. Float Like a Butterfly BEST DOCUMENTARY 1. Apollo 11 2. Diego Maradona 3. Gaza 4. Minding the Gap 5. For Sama 6. Amazing Grace 7. An Engineer Imagines 8. Shooting the Mafia 9. The Man Who Wanted to Fly 10. Land Without God BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE 2019 – Aisling Franciosci, The Nightingale BREAKTHROUGH DIRECTOR 2019 – Kantemir Balagov, Beanpole (eile.ie 21 December 2019) EILE Magazine 55

Everyman Panto till Jan – Jack and the Beanstalk!

VISIT THE EVERYMAN FOR THIS YEAR’S PANTO… Jack and the Beanstalk!

PRESENTED BY THE EVERYMAN & CADA DIRECTED & PRODUCED BY CATHERINE MAHON-BUCKLEY This year’s Pantomime at the Everyman Theatre in Cork is the wonderful, and timeless story of Jack and the Beanstalk, which opened on Saturday, November 30th. Presented by The Everyman and CADA, it is directed and produced by the indomitable Catherine Mahon Buckley.

The cast includes: Michael Sands, playing Saxofen, who wants to rule the world; Jimmy Brockie as Jack Dawe, who is innocent and fun and believes everyone; Marjorie Dawe, Jack’s Mum, is Fionula Linehan; and Ciaran Bermingham brings his own particular brand of craziness to the role of Charlotte Cowlee, who says everything that people think privately. The Goose is back, played by April Kelly, and Jill

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is performed by Margarida Silva, with Alex Hindmarsh as the loveable, kind Giant.

So, make a date, and climb the magical beanstalk with Jack, to see and explore what happens. Jack and the Beanstalk has everything people want from Cork’s best-loved traditional panto – favourite songs, dance routines, and slapstick capers.

Discounted rates are available for groups of 20 or more. Phone 021 4501780 or groups@everymancork. com An ISL interpreted performance will take place Friday 3 January at 1.30pm.

For full details see www.everymancork. com JACK AND THE BEANSTALK at THE EVERYMAN THEATRE Until January Price | from €30 | Family Price from €105 (4 tickets) | Wonderful Wednesday €22 (8th Jan) Booking | www.everymancork. com 021 4501 673

A full schedule of matinee and evening performances is available on www.everymancork.com, or from the Box Office on (021) 4501673

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Adidas and Beyoncé to launch genderneutral collection (Reuters) – Adidas will start selling a new collection, designed with singer Beyoncé, on January 18, in a relaunch of her Ivy Park brand, that includes shoes, clothes and accessories, mostly in maroon, orange and cream.

Adidas described the collection, which features on the cover of January’s Elle magazine, as gender neutral. It includes jumpsuits, cargo pants, hoodies and cycling shorts, mostly featuring signature Adidas triple-stripes.

The German sportswear brand announced it was teaming up with the singer in April, to relaunch the Ivy Park brand Beyoncé started in 2016, together with British fashion chain, Topshop. The company did not give financial details.

The partnership comes as Adidas seeks to attract more female customers, an area where it has lagged [behind] bigger rival, Nike, and German competitor, Puma, which saw its sales boosted by a collaboration with singer Rihanna, that ended last year.

Adidas does not expect much of an immediate help to sales from the initial Beyoncé collection, but it will ramp up over time, Chief Executive, Kasper Rorsted, told analysts in November.

“You’re going to see several launches coming up, but they have no substantial revenue impact and this has been part of the plan all the time. You will see that change throughout next year,” the CEO said.

Adidas has eroded Nike’s dominance of the US market in recent years, helped by partnerships with celebrities like Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams, but Nike has been growing faster in China and Europe, a trend that continued in the latest results.

Ivy Park said last year [that] Beyoncé had bought the fitness clothing brand from Topshop.

-Emma Thomasson (eile.ie 20 December 2019)

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Image: upworthy

Image: business of fashion

Image: tone-deaf the brag

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2019 10 Headline LGBT Stories Millions of people joined Pride marches around the world in 2019, and LGBT rights were increasingly in the spotlight, with some countries legalising gay marriage, while others mulled the death penalty for same-sex relations.

2. Gabon criminalises [same-sex relations]

The year also marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots against police brutality in New York City, which triggered the modern movement for LGBT+ rights in Western countries.

The change was not widely reported until later in the year, but an activist who monitors LGBT+ rights in West Africa said he had spoken to two Gabonese men arrested under the new law, who had to bribe police to be released.

Here are 10 stories from a year of change for many LGBT+ people around the world: 1. Brunei and Uganda death penalty for samesex intimacy In March it was revealed that the small East Asian country of Brunei was planning to implement changes to its Islamic penal code that would impose death by stoning for samesex intimacy.

After a global backlash, with businesses and celebrities, such as George Clooney and Elton John, boycotting companies owned by Brunei, the sultanate announced in May that a moratorium on the death penalty would be extended.

In October a Ugandan minister said the east African nation was planning to reintroduce [an anti-gay bill]. The government denied that the death penalty would be imposed for [same-sex relations] following an international outcry.

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In July, the central African nation of Gabon banned “sexual relations between people of the same sex”, introducing a penalty of up to six months in prison and a fine of 5 million CFA francs ($8,482).

3. Kenya upholds [anti-gay] ban Kenya’s High Court upheld a British colonialera law criminalising [same-sex relations] by up to 14 years in gaol, in May, throwing out a petition by LGBT+ campaigners on the grounds that same-sex relations clashed with traditional moral values.

Advocates said the law promoted homophobia in the socially conservative and religious East African nation, and violated constitutional rights to privacy, equality and dignity. They are appealing the ruling.

4. Botswana legalises same-sex relations In June, Botswana legalised same-sex relations when the High Court overturned a colonial-era law that had punished consensual [same-sex relations] by up to seven years in prison.

“Discrimination has no place in this world,” Justice Michael Leburu said in his ruling,

which followed previous judgments in the southern African country, that had recognised the right of LGBT+ people to equal protection before the law.

5. Same-sex marriage spreads Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in May, despite two-thirds of people voting in a referendum, in November 2018, to retain the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

The self-ruled island was followed by Ecuador in June, with the South American nation becoming the 27th country in the world to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed.

The following month, the British parliament voted to extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland.

6. Trump’s transgender military ban goes into effect The United States implemented a law in April that banned openly trans people from enlisting in the military, with President Donald Trump stating that trans service members would cause “tremendous medical costs and disruption”.

It reversed a policy of Trump’s predecessor, President Barack Obama.

7. Brazil’s top court rules homophobia is a crime In May, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that homophobia and transphobia were crimes, under existing anti-discrimination laws in the South American country. This outlawed violence against LGBT+ people and made it illegal to deny them access to education, jobs, shops, and public buildings.

The ruling came after President Jair Bolsonaro, a self-proclaimed ‘proud homophobe’, removed LGBT+ responsibilities from the human rights

ministry after taking office in January.

8. LGBT-free zones spread in Poland Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party, in campaigns for the European Union elections in May and national elections in October, depicted ‘LGBT ideology’ as foreign ideas that undermined traditional values.

While Warsaw’s mayor signed a pro-LGBT+ declaration in February, dozens of towns – mostly in conservative, rural Poland – declared themselves ‘LGBT free’, and Pride marches in some cities were attacked by protesters.

9. Georgia Pride marchers defy far-right threats While millions marched in global Pride celebrations, marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising this summer, in Tbilisi, Georgia, LGBT+ people and their allies had to scale down their parade amid far-right threats.

In November, the premiere of a film about gay love in the country was attacked by violent ultra-nationalist demonstrators, more than 25 of whom were arrested.

10. ‘Conversion therapy’ bans spread Germany’s cabinet in December backed a law that would ban so-called conversion therapy for minors, as a global movement to end discredited practices, that aim to change someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation, gathered pace.

Conversion therapy, which has been widely condemned by medical associations around the world as ineffective and detrimental to mental health, is illegal in Malta, Ecuador, Brazil, and Taiwan.

-Rachel Savage @rachelmsavage – Thomson Reuters Foundation (eile.ie 30 December 2019)

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First trans hero – new era for LGBT+ in video games?

Fewer than 10 games a year from the 1980s up to 2004 featured any LGBT+ characters When Tyler Ronan, and his twin sister, Alyson, ask video gamers to unravel their family’s mysterious past in small town Alaska next year, the siblings will take followers on a untrodden journey.

For he is the first playable trans hero of a major video game, Tell Me Why, which will be released next Summer by Dontnod Entertainment, the French studio behind the blockbuster, Life Is Strange.

The game has been hailed as a milestone for LGBT+ representation by players and campaigners, and led to debate over whether an industry, often criticised for sexism and homophobia, is opening up to greater diversity.

“Tyler is a fully-realized, endearing character, whose story is not reduced to simplistic trans tropes,” said Nick Adams, a spokesman for the LGBT+ advocacy group GLAAD. “Creating a playable lead trans character – and taking such care to get it right – raises the bar for future LGBTQ inclusion in gaming.”

The video game market dwarfs Hollywood, with an annual value of about $150 billion, according to data firm, Newzoo, which said there are now more than 2.5 billion gamers worldwide.

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Fewer than 10 games a year from the 1980s up to 2004 featured any LGBT+ characters, according to a database compiled by non-profit, Queerly Represent Me. Gamers may remember Birdo in Super Mario Bros. 2, who was described as a character who “thinks he is a girl”, and The Sims, which allowed players to initiate same-sex relationships.

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in games with LGBT+ representation, data shows, although with thousands of releases each year, they remain a small minority, while an estimated 4.5% of the US population identifies as LGBT+.

A 2015 study by data firm, Nielsen, found about two thirds of LGBT+ players said games did not represent all sexualities .

Matt Hardwick, co-founder of the London Gaymers group of LGBT+ gaming fans in Britain, said when games did feature gay, bisexual, or trans characters, they were shown as stereotypes, villains, the butt of jokes, or killed off early in play.

“There are plenty of LGBT+ players that feel under-represented, and want a story that matches with their experience,” said Hardwick.

“If the only characters available are straight, white people … that is a very limited form of representation.”

Image: Wikipedia

As awareness and acceptance of gay, bi and trans people has grown, other milestone characters have appeared in major games.

These include lesbian lead character, Tracer, in the popular Overwatch shooter game, while the upcoming action adventure game, The Last of Us Part II, caused a stir among fans, by featuring a same-sex kiss in its trailer last year.

However, much of the recent boom in inclusive games has been led by smaller independent game makers.

Heather Flowers, a US transgender developer behind the cult indie game, Extreme Meatpunks Forever, said major studios still viewed LGBT+ characters as more commercially risky.

While welcoming slowly increased representation in games, she said some studios lacked diverse staff, which meant they were writing characters without firsthand knowledge.

“Media representation is often there before actual workplace representation,” she said.

about and who think that they do because they know someone who is trans or gay.”

Players and gaming experts said LGBT+ representation was still a work in progress.

But amid a growing focus on diversity within games, many predicted the number of LGBT characters would grow.

“I think people have realised over the last few years that video games are not just for the straight white teenage boy in his bedroom – video games are something that should be for everyone and generally do appeal to everyone,” said Hardwick.

“The audiences are just as diverse as any video games characters could ever be.”

-Sonia Elks @soniaelks – Thomson Reuters Foundation (eile.ie 20 December 2019)

“That leads to a lot of really iffy issues … just people who don’t know what they are talking

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UK: LGBT navy veteran to get medals back and apology A bisexual British veteran, who was kicked out of the navy because of his sexuality, is set to become the first of many to get his medals back, and an apology from the British military for the way he was treated.

Joe Ousalice, 68, had served for almost 18 years as a radio operator, when he was discharged in 1993, after a court martial found him guilty of “conduct prejudicial to good order and naval discipline”.

He was stripped of his medals – some earned for duty in Northern Ireland and the Falklands war – and of his long service benefits. It was illegal for gay and lesbian people to be in the armed forces until 2000.

“I was made to feel like I was disgusting,” Ousalice said in a statement on Tuesday.

After nearly 30 years of legal battles seeking the return of his medals, an out-of-court decision was announced this week, and Ousalice will have his medals returned at a ceremony next week.

“I want other LGBT veterans to know they’re not alone, and that we all deserve the same recognition,” said Ousalice, who lives alone in Southampton on the south coast of England.

Following Ousalice’s campaign, the Ministry of Defence announced plans to restore medals to all affected LGBT+ military personnel, ahead of the 20th anniversary of ending the ban that will be marked in January next year.

The move is one of several by British governments taking measures to atone for past discrimination against LGBT+ people. In Scotland, gay men convicted under homophobic laws were officially pardoned in October.

“Today is a victory for equality and human rights and an important recognition of the hurt

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Joe Ousalice:

“I want other LGBT veterans to know they’re not alone, and that we all deserve the same recognition”

caused,” said Emma Norton, head of legal casework at human rights organisation, Liberty, which backed Ousalice’s court appeal.

In addition to restoring his medals, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has offered what is thought to be the first official apology to LGBT+ military personnel like Ousalice.

“Back in 1993, because of his sexuality, Mr Ousalice was treated in a way that would not be acceptable today and for that we apologise,” the MoD said in a statement “We accept our policy in respect of serving homosexuals in the military was wrong, discriminatory and unjust to the individuals involved.”

-Molly Millar – Thomson Reuters Foundation (eile.ie 11 December 2019)

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China - Elderly transwoman Sister Liu longs for family life (Reuters) – Morning market shoppers look a little too long in Liu Peilin’s direction, as she passes by in a red jacket and grey wig covered in red and pink clips, her cheeks rouged in bright pink, and eyeshadow in a matching shade.

The 63-year-old has become well-known, not only in the little southern Chinese village where she lives, but also nationally.

In 2012, news reports of a fire in a residential complex in the eastern city of Qingdao captured footage of a person returning to the premises

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dressed in female clothing, after China’s opening up, with hair in braids adorned that Liu felt she could with colourful ornaments. freely start wearing women’s clothes.

The video went viral, and Chinese netizens Although her brief brush dubbed the person “Big with viral fame gave her an Joy Brother”, mocking her unwanted nickname, and [….]. invited online mockery, it also brought her into That was Liu, who had contact with a supportive wanted to be a woman community. since she was a child, but had suppressed the At the beginning of the yearning for decades. year, she was facing eviction, when her “At that time, it was landlord in Qingdao not allowed,” she said, decided to raise the rent. referring to the Cultural Revolution, when people People she met helped wore drab Soviet-inspired her move in March to uniforms.

Guanzhong village, just outside the southern city of “I had to take the social Fuzhou. factors into consideration and buried the idea deep She has also gained down in my heart.” fans, who call her “Sister Liu”. Many send clothes, It was only in her 40s, swelling an expansive

Image: Reuters

wardrobe. Others give her books and even art.

Still, she faces discrimination.

“We all know he is not a bad person,” said a village official surnamed Lin, who declined to give his full name.

“But behaving as a woman, especially when he dresses up, doesn’t look so good … some people who don’t know him think he’s crazy.”

“I hope in the future I can have a normal life after changing my gender,” said Liu. “I want to get married and have a family. It doesn’t matter if there’s a kid or not. I want to find a companion and live a life.”

-Irene Wang and Huizhong Wu (eile.ie 21 December 2019)

Liu, who is unemployed, says she wants to undergo gender reassignment surgery, but lacks the funding. She documents her daily life by writing in her diary.

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Brazil - Group claim attack on ‘gay Jesus’ comedy troupe (Reuters) – A Christmas Eve fire-bomb attack on offices of a comedy troupe that produced a ‘gay Jesus’ Netflix special, is being investigated as an attempted homicide, police said on Thursday, a day after a shadowy group claimed responsibility, in a video that included a far-right religious statement.

A group identifying itself as ‘Popular Nationalist Insurgency Command of the Large Brazilian Integralist Family’ said in a video, circulated on social media late on Christmas Day, that it carried out the attack on the headquarters of the Porta dos Fundos comedy group, in Rio de Janeiro. The men in the video wore masks, and the group does not list the identities of any leaders or members.

The video showed masked men throwing Molotov cocktails, and reading a statement against the 46-minute comedy that Netflix released three weeks ago.

Entitled: The First Temptation of Christ, the program depicts Jesus as a young man,, bringing home a boyfriend to meet the Holy 68 EILE Magazine

Family. Around 2 million people petitioned the streaming service to remove the show, saying it offended Christians.

State police told a news conference in Rio they had verified the contents of the video, showing three men in ski masks lighting Molotov cocktails, and throwing them at a glass-fronted office that is the Porta dos Fundos’ headquarters.

No one was hurt in the incident, and a security guard put out the blaze, according to a statement issued by Porta dos Fundos.

Rio police said the incident was under investigation as attempted homicide and causing an explosion. They said they did not currently consider it a terrorist attack, though such a classification had not been discarded.

Police said a group with a similar name and symbol, the Brazilian Integralist Front, had denied any links to the video, so investigators were not certain the attackers in fact were part of the far-right group they claimed to belong to.

Police have images of four men involved in the attack, but do not know their identities.

Authorities said they have formed a task force to

Statue: Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro

resolve the matter as quickly as possible, before the group can act again.

The video claiming responsibility shows three men in black ski masks and dark green jumpsuits, reading a statement in front of a flag bearing the Greek letter Sigma, the symbol of Brazil’s integralist movement from the 1930s, inspired by European fascism. There was also an Imperial Flag of Brazil, the national symbol under Brazil’s former monarchy, but not used since the 1800s.

The statement, read in a sound-altered voice, criticises the comedy as “blasphemy” perpetrated by left-wing Marxists, seeking to weaken and divide the country, and criticises Netflix for airing the special.

Netflix did not respond to a request for comment about the video claiming responsibility for the attack.

Brazil’s integralist movement from the 1930s stressed Christianity, traditional family values, and authoritarian politics, and sought to suppress differences in society.

population. There is also a rapidly growing Evangelical Christian community, that supports the right-wing government of President Jair Bolsonaro, who once said he would rather have a dead son than a gay son.

Asked to respond to the video claiming responsibility, Porta dos Fundos repeated a previous statement that it hoped the perpetrators would be caught and punished, and that Brazil “will survive this storm of hatred.”

Juliano Medeiros, leader of opposition PSOL party, urged that those responsible be brought to justice.

“If the authorities don’t give a rapid and fierce response against these types of acts, Brazil could spiral into a state of even more violence,” Medeiros said on Twitter.

-Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Jake Spring and Gabriela Mello (eile.ie 30 December 2019)

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Design: Anthony Zagariko, exclusively for EILE Magazine

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Quality LGBT News and Features – Produced from Los Angeles Available via podcast on our website (thiswayout.org) or on iTunes, and on 200+ Radio Stations Worldwide!

thiswayout.org | Twitter: @TWORadio Overnight Productions (Inc.)/”This Way Out” Post Office Box 1065 Los Angeles, CA 90078 U.S.A. EILE Magazine 71

Singapore: Disney cuts LGBT kiss from ‘Star Wars’ Disney has cut a lesbian kiss from the latest Star Wars movie – one of the top Christmas films – Singapore’s media regulator said on Tuesday, so that more children can watch it.

The two minor female characters embrace, but do not kiss, in the version of The Rise of Skywalker shown in Singapore, local media said, as the ninth and final film in the celebrated science-fiction series rakes in millions from loyal fans.

“The applicant has omitted a brief scene which under the Film Classification Guidelines would require a higher rating,” a spokeswoman from Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Disney, which owns the Star Wars production company, Lucasfilm, did not respond to a request for comment on its decision to cut the scene from the last instalment of the second highest-grossing movie franchise of all time.

It concludes a story that began in 1977, when filmmaker, George Lucas, introduced a young hero named Luke Skywalker, and delighted audiences with a galaxy of robots, furry warriors known as Wookiees, and a host of other eclectic characters.

Sex between men is illegal in Singapore, and punishable with up to two years in prison, though the British colonial-era law is rarely enforced. The law does not apply to sex between women.

Singapore activists challenged the law last month, as polls suggested attitudes toward homosexuality are softening, and similar legislation was scrapped in India last year.

The film is rated PG-13 in Singapore without the kiss scene, meaning parental guidance is advised for children below 13. Higher ratings mean it could be restricted only to viewers aged 16, 18, or 21, and above.

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Commander d’Arcy - a minor character with an LGBT moment in Star Wars - Image: lucasfilm

In 2016, the Singapore organisers of the musical, Les Miserables, removed a scene in which two male actors kiss after complaints from the public.

Disney declined to respond to a question about censorship in other markets, including the Middle East, amid media reports that the lesbian kiss has also been deleted from screenings of The Rise of Skywalker in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

-Beh Lih Yi @behlihyi – Thomson Reuters Foundation (eile.ie 25 December 2019)

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Zambia: US ambassador said to have ‘crossed line’ defending gay couple (Reuters) – Zambia’s home affairs minister said on Tuesday that a US ambassador, who criticised the jailing of a gay couple for 15 years, had “crossed the line”, adding that the United States had responded to an official complaint by recalling him.

A court in the southern African nation last month sentenced the couple under the country’s harsh colonial-era [anti-gay] law.

Ambassador Daniel Foote said he was “personally horrified,” adding: “Meanwhile, government officials can steal millions of public dollars without prosecution, political cadres can beat innocent citizens … with no consequences, poachers can kill numerous elephants… and face a maximum of only five years.”

A furious President Edgar Lungu said publicly that he had complained to his American counterpart, Donald Trump, over the ambassador’s comments. Embassy

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sources on Monday said Foote had been recalled. The embassy declined to give official comment.

“The dos and don’ts for those who represent nations in other nations are very clear. So if one crosses the line, it’s not about bilateral relations between the two countries,” Home Affairs, Stephen Kampyongo, told Hot FM radio.

“They (Washington) listened to the complaint,” he said.

An embassy source on Monday told Reuters that Washington had decided to recall its ambassador. because it was difficult for him to work in Zambia if his hosts did not want him.

Over the past decade, several African countries have come into conflict over LGBT rights with Western countries, many of which are paying a lot of their bills. The previous US Obama administration cut aid to Uganda and Malawi over homophobic laws and policies, although Western condemnation sometimes provokes African leaders into taking more hardline positions.

Image: britannica.com

Uganda announced plans in October for a bill that would impose the death penalty for gay sex, but it later backtracked after major aid donors said they were monitoring the situation.

Zambia receives hundreds of millions of dollars every year in financial support from the United States, some of which goes towards fighting HIV/AIDS. -Chris Mfula (eile.ie 25 December 2019)

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2026 Gay Games XII Host City Selection to Begin The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) announces that the bidding process to host the 2026 Gay Games XII has begun. Cities that are interested in hosting the world’s largest sport and culture event, open to all, are invited to contact FGGBids@GayGames. net to get more information on, and to start, the bidding process.

Official information, including details on timeline and process, is available at www.GayGames.org The deadline for submitting an Official FGG Request for Information (RFI) document is 11:59pm Pacific time 21 Feb 2020.

Gay Games is open to all, and since its debut in 1982, it has continued to perpetuate the legacy of changing cultural, social, and political attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people.

A core principle of the Federation of Gay Games is ‘Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™’. These principles will be represented next in 2022 at Gay Games 11, in Hong Kong.

It has never been more important to stand up for the rights of the LGBTQ+ communities around the world.

The positive financial impact to the host city of the Gay Games is clear, as evidenced by the official economic impact highlights from the 2018 Gay Games X in Paris: Total economic impact: US $117.9 million.

Locals and non-locals contributed a total of US $72.7 million to the economy, in the areas of lodging, dining and entertainment, travel and other necessities, and tourism.

An additional US $45.8 million was generated in local incomes – roughly the equivalent of 1,429 full-time jobs.

23% of participants were from France (12% from Paris).

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40% of local participants said they would have travelled outside Paris, France, to participate in the Gay Games, taking their spend of US $9.2 million to another region.

The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, as a way to empower thousands of LGBTQ+ athletes and artists through sport, culture, and fellowship. It was first held in San Francisco in 1982. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986), Vancouver (1990), New York (1994), Amsterdam (1998), Sydney (2002), Chicago (2006), Cologne (2010), Cleveland+Akron (2014), and Paris (2018). Gay Games 11 will be held in Hong Kong in 2022.

Visit www.gaygameshk2022.com for more information.

Image: crainscleveland.com

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